Lydia de Vega-Mercado: Remembering a Mother and the Philippines’ Sprint Queen
Lydia de Vega was Asia’s fastest woman of her time and one of the Philippines’ top athletes. She died on Wednesday, August 10, after battling breast cancer.
Philippine sports icon Lydia de Vega died on Wednesday, August 10, after battling breast cancer. Her daughter Stephanie Mercado-de Koenigswarter confirmed the news on her social media accounts.
“On behalf of our family, it is with absolute grief that I announce the death of my mother, Lydia De Vega this evening, August 10, 2022, at the Makati Medical Center,” Stephanie wrote.
“She fought the very good fight and is now at peace.”
Stephanie will announce more details of her mother’s wake.
Asia’s Sprint Queen
Born in Meycauyan, Bulacan, Lydia de Vega rose to fame in the 80s as one of the country’s top track and field athletes. Lydia joined big competitions including the Southeast Asian Games, where she amassed nine medals alone during her time.
She also participated in the Asian Games, where she got two gold medals. She also took part as a member of the Philippine team in the Olympics in 1984 in Los Angeles and the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
After retiring, Lydia continued to help by coaching athletes in the Philippines and Singapore. She made an appearance in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila alongside athletes like Paeng Nepomuceno, Akiko Thomson, and Eric Buhain.
Battling cancer
On July 20, her daughter Stephanie confirmed that her mom was battling Stage 4 Breast Cancer and would return to the Philippines.
Stephanie sought help and several organizations chipped in to assist — including the Philippine Sports Commission. EJ Obiena, who made history in the World Championship for pole vaulting, has also pledged P500,000 to help with the medical expenses.
On August 10, 2022, Stephanie confirmed the sad news. Tributes poured in from the world of Philippine Sports.
Lydia the daughter and mother
In a past interview with ABS-CBN, Lydia recalled how her father Francisco “Tatang” de Vega made her work hard early on in her career as an athlete. She even mentioned the times she felt exhausted and started crying.
“Minsan naiinis ako sa tatay ko, nagagalit ako. Wala ako magawa kasi tatay ko ‘yun, coach ko ‘yun, kailangan ko sumunod. ‘Pag pumupunta ako sa starting point, umiiyak ako. Galit na galit ako sa sarili ko … Andami-daming sports, ba’t track-and-field ang napili ko, takbo lang ako ng takbo. Ang pahinga ko, lakad,” she said.
Despite the exhaustion, she would feel joy afterward when she got to the finish line. Moreover, she believes that without Tatang, she wouldn’t be where she is.
Aside from her father, Lydia is a devoted mom to her daughter Stephanie, a former volleyball player. She has one grandchild as well.
Lydia de Vega has left a print in Philippine Sports and she will surely be missed by many.
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