Lydia de Vega-Mercado, considered Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s, died on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.
She was 57.
The announcement of her death was made by her daughter Stephanie Mercado-de Koenigswarter.
"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," Koenigswarter said on Facebook.
"She fought the very good fight and is now at peace.”
https://twitter.com/oslecjunior/status/1557495949026799616?s=20&t=QO3_aWZPx9welgpMUBG9WA
De Vega died on August 10, 2022 after battling cancer while confined at the Makati Medical Center.
In 2018, De Vega was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. In July 2022, her daughter Stephanie revealed that she underwent brain surgery but was "in critical condition”.
Born: December 26, 1964, Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines
Died: August 10, 2022, Makati, Philippines
Spouse: Paul Mercado
Lydia De Vega brought home the gold in the 100-metre dash at the SEA Games (1987, 1991 and 1993).
She also topped the 200-metre 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.
