Lydia de Vega-Mercado a Filipino athlete who was considered Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s has died. She died on August 10, 2022 aged 57. She died some months away from her 58th birthday.
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Lydia was born on December 26, 1964 to Mrs Vega and Tatang De Vega
Her father Tatang De Vega played a crucial role in her career as he was one of her first coaches.
Through her father’s tutelage, she won the gold in the 100 meters at the SEA Games (1987, 1991 and 1993) and also topped the 200 meter event in 1981, 1983, 1987 and 1993.
She has twice won both the 100 and 200 meter golds in the Asian Athletics Championships – 1983 and 1987.
As a 16-year old in the 1981 edition, she placed second in the 400 meter run and also bagged the bronze medal in the 200 meters.
De Vega was a two-time Olympian, represented the Philippines at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics.
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She also brought home a silver medal in the 200-meter race from the 1986 Seoul Asiad, and has once represented a friend for the Long Jumps and broke her record.
She retired from her athletic career in 1994.
After her retirement, she served as a councilor of her native Meycauayan town in Bulacan province.
In early 2005, she was appointed a liaison officer of the Alliance of Coaches and Athletes of the Philippines with the Philippine Sports Commission.
In December 2005, De Vega went to Singapore after receiving three job offers from Singaporean private schools to handle athletics. She accepted the offer and coached young athletes there.
One of her most recent public appearance was as one of the flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.
Sadly, in 2018, De Vega was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and in July 2022, her daughter Stephanie revealed that she underwent brain surgery but was “in critical condition”.
De Vega died on August 10, 2022 after battling cancer while confined at the Makati Medical Center.
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