A man believed to be “The World’s Oldest Marathon Runner” has died in a road accident at the apparent age of 114. Fauja Singh, a British-Indian man who in 2011 became the first centenarian to complete a marathon, was taking a walk in Beas Pind, the Punjabi village he was born in, when he was struck by a vehicle and rushed to hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Singh, who was born in 1911, ran his first marathon in London in 2000 and completed eight more until he retired in 2013 at the purported age of 101. The centenarian also served as a torchbearer for the 2012 Olympics and was awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of his achievements in 2015. His accomplishments were never officially recognized by Guinness World Records however after he was unable to produce a copy of his birth certificate, despite his passport indicating his birthdate and him receiving a letter from Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate his purported 100th birthday. Singh’s trainer confirmed his death on Tuesday, writing “Dearest runners. It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India. Aged 114 years old.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to his passing, calling Singh an “exceptional athlete with incredible determination.”
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