The oldest marathoner in the world retires

Fauja Singh, an athlete of 101 years, considered the oldest marathon runner in the world, said this Thursday, a few days before participating in his last race, that he felt "sad" for having to retire.

"I feel bad about the fact that I have to retire. I really do not want to hear the word withdrawn because I can still run and jump. It's a negative feeling that I've never experienced before, " declared Singh, born in India but with British nationality.

Singh, nicknamed the 'Tornado with turban ', started running to the 89 years, after the death of his wife and a son, and since then he has completed nine marathons, but admits that age has finally taken its toll.

On Sunday, this athlete, who will be 102 for the 1 in April, will compete in the ten-kilometer race to celebrate the Hong Kong marathon.

Singh, a farmer in his home state of Punjab before emigrating to England, has participated in marathons as prestigious as New York, Toronto or London. His best moment was in Canada, when he finished in five hours, forty minutes and four seconds.

"I have mixed feelings, I think that when I stop running people will not love me. Now everyone loves me and I hope no one will forget me or ignore me ", pointed out the veteran athlete.

"When you get old you become like a child and you need attention", he admitted. Singh, who weighs only 52 kilograms, says he has no injuries, but admits that running "is hard" for someone his age. "I will not stop running, but I will do it for my personal health", concluded the dean of the world's athletes.

Source: triamax.com