By Augustine Hwata
Almost halfway across the world from each other, two similar but tragic events recently unfolded when two of the world’s oldest but fittest athletes died.
One unfortunate incident took place in Mutare, Zimbabwe when an 81 year old long distance runner Nelson Sigauke died after being hit by a car on July 9.
Sigauke
In Punjab, India, marathon runner Faujah Singh died at the age of 114 after being also hit by a car.
Sigauke, took part in the Albun Netone 2023 and 2024 editions of the event, participating in the 21km category.
He was the oldest known long distance runner in Zimbabwe and was laid to rest at the Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre amid an outpouring of grief and heartfelt tributes from family and friends.
Sigauke, tragically died on Monday, July 7 after he was struck by a vehicle along Robert Mugabe Road while walking towards the city centre of the Eastern highlands town.
The unidentified motorist, according to Manicaland police Acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, fled the scene after the incident.
“The now-deceased was walking along Robert Mugabe Road towards the CBD at around 2:40 pm. As he approached the Robert Mugabe and Simon Mazorodze intersection, an unknown motorist driving towards Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital hit him while overtaking from the left and fled the scene,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He indicated that Sigauke was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital by a well-wisher but sadly succumbed to his injuries on admission.
He had sustained a fractured left leg and died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
A sombre atmosphere gripped the Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre as mourners gathered to pay their final respects to the liberation hero, marathon enthusiast, and lifelong community servant.
And just like Sigauke exactly a week later, Fauja Singh, a British-Indian man believed to be the world’s oldest marathon runner, passed away after being hit by a car in India at the age of 114.
According to BBC, police say Singh was crossing a road in the village where he was born in Punjab when an unidentified vehicle hit him. Locals took him to hospital, where he died.
Singh, a global icon, set records by running marathons across multiple age categories, including when he was over 100. He began running at 89 and ran nine full marathons between 2000 and 2013, when he retired.
His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, said its upcoming events in Ilford, east London, where he had lived since 1992, would be a celebration of his life and achievements.
The hit and run happened on Monday as the centenarian was walking in his birth village, Beas Pind, near Jalandhar.
“A search is under way, and the accused will be caught soon,” said Harvinder Singh, a top district police officer.
As news of the death broke, tributes poured in. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him an “exceptional athlete with incredible determination”.
Harmander Singh, Fauja Singh’s coach at Sikhs In The City, confirmed his death in a statement posted to the running club.
A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh clocked several milestones during his running career, including reportedly becoming the first centenarian to complete a full marathon in 2011 in Toronto.
However, his claim of being the world’s oldest marathon runner was not recognised by Guinness World Records as he could not show a birth certificate from 1911.
The BBC reported at the time that Singh’s British passport showed his date of birth as being 1 April 1911, and that he had a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday.
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