Gurnam Singh (athlete)
Gurnam Singh (born in Punjab, India on August 16, 1931) was the former Indonesian track and field athlete who won three gold medals in the fourth Asian Games in 1962 in Jakarta, winning the medals for marathon, 5000 and 10000 meters run. The government awarded him with 20 cows, two cars, as well as a house in the Sawo Alley, Medan for his feat. After that his life began to be uncertain; his wife left him and took his six children with her in 1969. And in 1972, his house was demolished by the regional government for not having permission to erect the building (IMB). Since that time he became a homeless person, staying in a relative's house to another. Finally, in 2003, he lives in the special school for Indian descendants in Medan.
Sources
- (Indonesian) "Mantan Manusia Tercepat Asia yang Terlunta-lunta", Liputan 6, 18 August 2003
- (Indonesian) "Gurnam Singh Tak Punya Uang untuk Kembali ke Medan", Sinar Harapan, 5 July 2003