‘DIAY,’ ASIAN SPRINT QUEEN, 57
IJOIN the entire nation in mourning the untimely demise of former Asian sprint queen Lydia de Vega, after a four-year battle with breast cancer. My sincerest condolences to her family and loved ones. Lydia was once touted as the fastest woman in Asia and she placed the Philippines in the map of international athletics. Lydia de Vega has run her last race. She has finished her contest. She has fought a good fight. Let us pray for her peace.”—president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. A legend, an icon.
Lydia de Vega-mercado, who has held the title as Asia’s Sprint Queen, received an outpouring tribute from her fellow athletes—past and present—after she succumbed to complications from stage four breast cancer on Wednesday evening at the Makati Medical Center.
Her contemporaries in the glorious Philippine athletics years in the 1980s and early 1990s led by fellow track and field legend Elma Muros-posadas, Isidro del Prado and Hector Begeo expressed deep sadness when they learned about their teammates demise through the Facebook timeline of De Vega’s daughter Stephanie de Koenigswarter
“It’s very unacceptable and painful. But if we see her suffer, I believe it’s really time to let her go so she can now rest,” 15-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Muros-posadas told Businessmirror on Thursday. “Her memories will never fade, her achievements will forever live on.”
Posadas-muros, 55, also a twotime Asian Games bronze medalist, said De Vega’s legacy would definitely be a model to all aspiring generations of young athletes.
“Despite her fame throughout those years, she remained humble and approachable,” said Murosposadas, who shared the limelight with De Vega as the country’s long jump queen and heptathlon champion.
Four-time SEA Games gold medalist del Prado said De Vega is a big loss not only to the Philippine track and field but to the entire Philippine sports.
“We lost an inspiration, a big inspiration for young runners,” the 400- and 800-meter and 4X400 relay Olympic athlete del Prado said. “She was a very brave and very joyful athlete. She was fierce and fearless even in training. I trained with her during the Gintong Alay days.”
The 59-year-old Begeo, now based in Melbourne, Australia, was shocked when he heard the news.
“It’s definitely sad and painful to hear her gone. Her achievements will be etched in stone. Nobody will forget her,” the 3,000 steeplechase athlete said. “I’m hoping that one day there will be another Lydia de Vega.” Former Philippine Track and Field Association president now Laoag City Mayor Michael Keon offered his respect to de Vega on his Facebook post.
“Her legacy as an athlete will never die,” said Keon, who was head of the Project: Gintong Alay that saw De Vega rise from a raw but potential talent from Meycauayan, Bulacan, into becoming Asia’s Sprint Queen.
“On behalf of the City Government of Laoag, I extend deepest condolences to the family of Lydia de Vega who passed away last night,” he said.
Keon said De Vega was one of the original 20 athletes who trained in Baguio City under Gintong Alay.