# Fauja Singh, holder of 7 new world records. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627 "2011-10-14T13:53:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/1 "2011-10-14T13:53:58Z")
You may not know of him - Fauja Singh is 100 years old, did not start running until he was 80, and as of yesterday, he is now the holder of 7 new world records - > [@](#): > > World age-group records pending for 100-year-old runner, after runs by Fauja Singh, Oct. 13, 2011: > > 100 metres – 23.40 seconds (previous 29.83); > 200 metres – 52.23 seconds (previous 77.59 seconds); > 400 metres – 2:13.48 (previous 3:41.00); > 800 metres – 5:32.18 (no previous record); > 1,500 metres – 11:27.00 (previous 16:46.00); mile 11:53.45 (no previous record); > 3,000 metres – 24:52.47 (no previous record); > 5,000 metres – 49:57.39 (no previous). from [this article](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/the-turbaned-tornado-keeps-the-marathon-pace/article2200616/) in the Globe and Mail. (Note: the article say 8 world records, but does not cite what the 8th is…) Now, while these records are based on his age, those are still respectable times. He will run in Sunday’s Waterfront Marathon in Toronto, and if he completes, he will be the oldest person ever to have run a marathon. Warmest wishes to him! ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/2 "2011-10-14T17:18:19Z")
Awesome! I saw his photo in the paper the other day practicing for the marathon, I’m sure he’ll do great. There are senior citizens who run ultramarathons on a regular basis. The oldest person to finish the Badwater 135 was, I think, 77 years old. My goal is to be able to run a 100 miler when I’m 100 years old…gives me two things to shoot for 😃 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/3 "2011-10-14T20:40:20Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > You may not know of him - Fauja Singh is 100 years old, did not start running until he was 80, and as of yesterday, he is now the holder of 7 new world records - > > from [this article](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/the-turbaned-tornado-keeps-the-marathon-pace/article2200616/) in the Globe and Mail. (Note: **the article say 8 world records, but does not cite what the 8th is.**..) There are 8 there. > [@](#): > > **1** - 100 metres – 23.40 seconds (previous 29.83); > **2** - 200 metres – 52.23 seconds (previous 77.59 seconds); > **3** - 400 metres – 2:13.48 (previous 3:41.00); > **4** - 800 metres – 5:32.18 (no previous record); > **5** - 1,500 metres – 11:27.00 (previous 16:46.00); > **6** - mile 11:53.45 (no previous record); > **7** - 3,000 metres – 24:52.47 (no previous record); > **8** - 5,000 metres – 49:57.39 (no previous). Good for him! StG ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/4 "2011-10-14T22:19:32Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Now, while these records are based on his age, those are still respectable times. The article says that his age group is people over 90? Who determines these age groups and is there a higher one? Becuase if, at 101, he’s still competing in the same group as 90-year-olds, it seems quite unfair. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/5 "2011-10-14T23:08:44Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > There are 8 there. Good Lord, it’s been so long since I’ve used a ‘mile’, I don’t even recognize the word when I see it! 😃 Thanks for pointing that out. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/6 "2011-10-15T19:53:48Z")
There’s [this video](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15319106), too. You’d never ever guess his age at 100. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/7 "2011-10-16T05:47:47Z")
Is he really hundered years old? Because the area where he is from, the Punjab did not have routine Birth records taken until fairly recently. And “100 years old” is also often used to mean “really old”; not necessarily 100. I do not mean to denigrate his achivements, the old guy is fitter then I am, or ever could be. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/8 "2011-10-16T06:00:21Z")
I hope no one breaks these records over the next 70 years, because I think I can take him in 2080. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/9 "2011-10-16T06:19:36Z")
Jeez, he runs like an old man! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/10 "2011-10-16T13:44:30Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Is he really hundered years old? Because the area where he is from, the Punjab did not have routine Birth records taken until fairly recently. And “100 years old” is also often used to mean “really old”; not necessarily 100. > > I do not mean to denigrate his achivements, the old guy is fitter then I am, or ever could be. It would really piss me off if he was only 98 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/11 "2011-10-16T13:48:16Z")
His time in the 100 is probably better than mine would be… Let this be an example to everyone…keep busy and keep active and have a long, quality life. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/12 "2011-10-16T17:12:27Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > The article says that his age group is people over 90? Who determines these age groups and is there a higher one? Becuase if, at 101, he’s still competing in the same group as 90-year-olds, it seems quite unfair. How many people over the age of 100 do you think are running? I bet he’s the only one in any given marathon he enters. Not that this man doesn’t deserve recognition every time he finishes, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/13 "2011-10-16T22:52:49Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Is he really hundered years old? Because the area where he is from, the Punjab did not have routine Birth records taken until fairly recently. And “100 years old” is also often used to mean “really old”; not necessarily 100. > > I do not mean to denigrate his achivements, the old guy is fitter then I am, or ever could be. In all the articles I’ve read, his birthday is given as April 11, 1911, for what that’s worth. I don’t know enough about the specifics of his place of birth to say how accurate that is. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fauja-singh-holder-of-7-new-world-records/599627/14 "2011-10-16T22:58:10Z")
Add ‘World’s Oldest Marathoner’ to his records - he finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in a time of 8 hours 11 minutes and 5.9 seconds. CBC article at [this link](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/10/16/fauja-singh-toronto-marathon321.html).