100-year-old sets record at Toronto marathon
Updated at 10:46 pm on 18 October 2011
A British centenarian of Indian ancestry has become the oldest person ever to complete a full 42km marathon in Toronto.
Fauja Singh celebrates after finishing the Toronto marathon.
PHOTO: AFP / Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Fauja Singh, 100, known as the Turbaned Tornado, took eight hours to cross the finish line on Sunday- more than six hours after Kenya's Kenneth Mungara won the event for the fourth consecutive year, AFP reports.
Although finishing 3849th, Singh is "overjoyed" about beating his predicted time, his coach Harmander Singh told the Toronto Star.
The runner had set a goal of finishing the race in about nine hours.
"He's absolutely overjoyed, he's achieved his life-long wish," Harmander Singh said.
The Toronto marathon is the eighth for Singh, who entered his first race at the age of 89 after losing his wife and child.
Singh hopes next to carry the torch at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Copyright © 2011, Radio New Zealand
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