Nintey-two year old marathon runner Fauja Singh has signed a deal with Adidas for a major advertising campaign that also features David Beckham, Jonny Wilkinson and Laila Ali. From this week, Fauja’s face will adorn billboards in cities across the UK as part of the campaign called Impossible Is Nothing.Before the second World War he took part in village sports competitions in which he recalls being faster than many of his neighbours. But at 36, family commitments took over - he now has four children, 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren - and his running came to a halt. After his wife’s death, however, when he moved to England to live with his son 11 years ago, Fauja rediscovered his old passion.Trying to cope with homesickness, language problem and having endless hours to fill, Fauja sought an activity that would fulfil him mentally and physically. He found running. Initially he took part in short-distance races of five or ten kilometres. Four years ago, after a 53-year break from the sport, he lined up for his first London Marathon at the age of 89. He took six hours and 54 minutes to reach the finish, and the following year ran the same time to set a world record for 90-year-olds.Since 2000, Singh has persistently defied perceived wisdom about age being a barrier in sport by getting faster. Singh turns 93 next month and will be the oldest man ever to line up for the London Marathon.
