The 100-year-old marathoner snubbed by Guinness World Records

Centenarian Fauja Singh completes the Toronto marathon, but the record keepers say he doesn't have adequate proof of his wise, old age

Centenarian Fauja Singh may have impressed thousands when he completed the Toronto marathon earlier this month, but the Guinness World Records won't officially acknowledge his feat.
(Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Hearts were warmed around the world earlier this month when Britain's Fauja Singh, 100, became the oldest man ever to complete a full marathon. On Oct. 16, Singh finished the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 25 minutes, and 16 seconds. It was one for the record books, or so it seemed. Now, Guinness World Records is refusing to recognize Singh's feat because he can't produce his birth certificate from 1911. Here, a brief guide to the sporting world's birther scandal:

Who is Fauja Singh?

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us