Ram Singh Yadav

Ram Singh Yadav, born on November 7, 1984, in Babiyan village, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is a prominent figure in Indian sports, particularly in marathon running. His background is modest, with his father working as a fruit-seller in Mumbai. Yadav married Urmila Yadav in 2001 and is a father to three children, has balanced a successful family life with his athletic career.

Ram Singh Yadav Joined the Indian army as Havildar. Serving as a havildar in the Indian Army, Yadav's commitment to running is closely linked with his military service. Stationed at the Artillery Centre in Hyderabad, he got trained at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, where he developed his skills for marathon running.

Yadav's journey to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London was marked by significant efforts and achievements. He narrowly missed qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, he used this as motivation to improve, resulting in a personal best time of 2:16:59 at the 2012 Mumbai Marathon. This achievement made him the only Indian athlete to qualify for the marathon event at the Olympics, after 1980.

Despite various challenges faced by Indian athletes, such as climate and training conditions noted by his coach Amrik Singh and race director Hugh Jones, Yadav's determination has been evident. 

In the London 2012 Olympic Games, Yadav finished 78th in the marathon. At a pre-marathon press conference, he expressed his ambition to surpass Shivnath Singh's records, however he could not do it.

Ram Singh Yadav's career is significant not only for his personal achievements but also as an inspiration to upcoming athletes in India. His story shows that determination, thorough training, and resilience can overcome obstacles of poverty and help achieve ambitious goals. Yadav is recognized not only for his marathon running but also as an example of what can be accomplished with dedication and effort in sports.