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103-Year-Old Marathoner Honored by British Queen

Fauja Singh becomes Medalist of the Order of the British Empire.

Published by Runnersworld.com
December 31, 2014
SinghRetires

Fauja Singh, who is recognized as the oldest person to finish a marathon, has been named a Medalist of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

Singh, 103, was among 1,164 recipients of one of several levels of recognition in the annual New Year Honours announcements. The Order of the British Empire medal recognizes "distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds," according to the British monarch website. Singh was honored "for services to sport and charity," the official announcement of 2015's honorees reads.

In 2011, Singh became the first centenarian to finish a marathon at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. In 2012, at age 101, he ran the London Marathon and became the oldest person to finish a marathon. He holds the 90-and-older world best of 5:40, set at Toronto in 2003 when he was 92.

Singh's last official race was a 10K in Hong Kong in February 2013. Singh, a British citizen of Punjabi Sikh descent, was part of the Olympic torch relay in the run-up to the 2012 London Games.

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