M100 Indian sets 8 world records in succession? Check ID first
The Toronto Star is reporting that a turbaned phenom set or broke eight M100 world records in the course of 5,000-meter run. See story and video here. Story says: “Fauja Singh ran through eight track events in succession at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough as part of a charity event, Sikhs in the City. Singh, who lives in England but hails from India, is in town to compete in Sunday’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon as he tries to set a Guinness World Record. Along the way, he decided to crush a few records.” OK, let’s take a breath. Before WMA will ratify any of these records, he’ll need to prove his age, and the meet needs to satisfy British or Canadian record authorities as well. Indian athletes have fudged age in the past.
Fauja is shown running during his Jesse Owens day, but where are the phototimers?
In June 2005, he was subject of another story — when he was 94. So he looks legit. BBC News reported:
A 94-year-old athlete was first off the starting blocks as 11,000 runners took part in the annual Edinburgh Marathon.
Fauja Singh, the official starter for the race, was among 6,000 marathon runners and 5,000 relay competitors who took part in the event.
The race was won by 25-year-old Kenyan Zachary Kihara, who admitted he was surprised to take gold in his first ever marathon race.
Cambuslang Harriers’ Robert Gilroy was the first British runner to finish.
The first female was Russian favourite Zinaida Semenova, with Aberdeen-born Shona Crombie Hicks in second.
Fauja Singh, who is from the Punjab in India, but now lives in Ilford, Essex, was last year signed by Adidas for the ‘Impossible is Nothing’ advertising campaign.
In 2003, he set the marathon world record for over 90-year-olds, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in five hours and 40 minutes.
Mr Singh was also running the final leg of the relay at Edinburgh, with a team of four other UK Sikhs.
The combined age of the team, which is the oldest ever in marathon relay, is 397 years.
The youngest member, Amrik Singh from Glasgow, is 70.
Mr Singh, a father of four and grandfather of 13, said: “I am extremely honoured to have been invited to start this year’s Edinburgh Marathon.
“By running as the oldest ever marathon relay team I hope we will inspire young people to keep going and older people never to give up.”
The race began in Holyrood Park and followed a route taking in Holyrood Palace, Princes Street and the Scottish Parliament.
Competitors from 45 countries converged on the Scottish capital for the event.
Organisers said it would raise £1.5m for more than 100 good causes, as well as generating £1m for the local economy.
23 Responses
Geez, what a thing to write, “Indian athletes have fudged age in the past.” Sprinters (he broke the 100m record, after all) have been known for doping, as well.
Congratulations and nice job, Mr. Singh.
You can see pictures and his times at http://www.ontariomastersathletics.ca/?p=2407
It was totally awesome and very inspiring to witness this! You’re never too old in Masters track!
I attended this amazing experience today. I ran in the 200 and 400 and also assisted on timing and lap counting. It was all organized through Canadian Masters, including electronic photo timing. In summary, it’s all legit, and WMA should recognize the records, no problem
Do you notice how he’s launching himself off the ground in the 100m and 200m pictures? He’s really cruising.
Terrific! With the death earlier this year of thrower Alfred Proksch of Austria at 102, Mr. Singh could very well be the oldest male competitive track and field athlete in the World.
I believe the oldest female Masters in competition is Ruth Frith of Australia, still going strong at age 102.
Mr Singh made it to FOX morning news – Why that old age-fudger – how dare he. I agree with tb – why try and besmirch his achievements before any verification. Right now he’s an inspiration and amazing. Congratulations Mr. Singh!
I was the Meet Director. I got writer’s cramp from signing all the record application forms. I can vouch for the fact that the meet was held to the highest standards.
He ran all of the events – in order from shortest to longest – with only a short break.
I was the most astonishing athletic performance I have ever witnessed !
PS. I ran my 200’s that night at the workout with renewed inspiration.
PPS. We had one of the highest level photo-timers on the planet. 🙂
Congratulations to Mr. Singh. I find it very inspiring.
One assumes he has passed the age inspection before as he is the listed WMA world record holder in M90 marathon 5:40:01, Toronoto, 28.09.03.
Hey Ken,
“Eurovets are drug-paranoids ”
“Indian athletes have fudged age in the past.”
Why so xenophobic?
One could surely come up with many negative statements about americans. Do we really want to go that way?
Milan
Hearty congratulations to Mr. Singh! And how about the Long Jump record next? Sikhs for some reason are often prominent in the Long Jump.
Excellent performances, Mr. Singh. And with Doug Smith the Younger in charge we can be sure that the events were conducted in the appropriate fashion. We are proud of you as well, Doug.
Hold on take the record away…he’s really 99 not 100…NOT!
If Doug is overseeing record aps, all is well! My apologies for cheeky chip on the shoulder.
^ 🙂
He certainly is very old, but there has been some rumour ten years ago or so that his age was not perfectly known.
Nevertheless outstanding.
wait a minute…didn’t anyone see those tiny flying carpets under each of his feet…???
I really do not care if the guy is indian or european or american. The fact that he is indian does not automatically bring his records under suspicion because some other indian in the past may have cheated. He is simply an athlete who has done an amazing achievement. Congratulations Mr. Singh.
The real reason Singh came to Toronto was to run the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which he completed today in 8:25.17 (clock time), while it took him almost 14:11 to cross the start line, so his chip time was 8:11.06. Singh is the first 100 year old to complete a marathon.
Today, as Andrew Hecker related in the previous post, Fauja Singh -at the age of 100!!!- completed the Toronto Marathon in a little over 8 hours!
That is truly remarkable -no fudging there.
Mr Singh, we are in awe of you!!
ps: just sent Ken Stone a copy of the CBC.com story on this, hope Ken makes a proper blog post of it.
Just to follow up the last post, Fuaja Singh’s marathon was one of the main stories on CBC news today, both online and on radio and TV. How many masters T&F athletes have made that kind of media impact?
Personally, I think he 8 WR’s on Thursday blows away the Marathon mark….but all of them COMBINED, in four days, is beyond belief. 🙂
@ al cestero – I think flying carpets are an Arabian thing…not a Sihk thing.
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