Shivnath Singh

Shivnath Singh (July 11, 1946 – June 6, 2003) was one of the greatest long-distance runners that India has produced. Singh represented India twice in the Asian games and twice at the Summer Olympics (1976 and 1980). He was born in Majharia, Buxar, Bihar in India. He joined the Indian Army in the Bihar Regiment and rose to the rank of Naib Subedar. He died on 6 June 2003 at Jamshedpur, India after a prolonged illness. He still holds India's national record for the marathon which he set in 1978. It is the longest standing Indian athletics record.

Career
He represented India at the 1976 Summer Olympics and placed 11th in the 1976 Olympic Men's Marathon. He dropped out of the 1980 Olympic Men's Marathon in Moscow.

Shivnath Singh competed barefoot throughout his running career. He holds the Indian national marathon record with a best time (2:12:00), a feat that he achieved in Jalandhar in 1978.