Lydia De Vega was a famous Philippine Olympic athlete regarded as Asia’s fastest woman in the 1980s. She was a member of the Gintong Alay track and field team in 1979.
She first made an impression during the 1981 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila, where she won gold medals in the 200 and 400-meter events, breaking Asian Games records. She was a two-time Olympian, representing the Philippines in the Summer Olympics in 1984 and 1988.
The Asian athlete queen won gold in the 100-meter dash at the 1982 New Delhi Asiad. She got the gold in the athlete category at the 1986 Seoul Asiad.
She also won a silver medal in the 200-meter event at the Seoul Asiad in 1986, and she once represented her friend in the long jumps and broke her record. She finished in sixth place in the Asian Athletics Championships in 1991.
She announced her retirement after competing in October’s track & field event at the 1994 Manila-Fujian Games. She confirmed that she would not participate in the forthcoming Philippine National Games.
The elegant athlete passed away at fifty-seven on August 10, 2022. The death of a former Philippine Olympic athlete has left everyone heartbroken and devasted.
Who Is Lydia De Vega’s Husband?
Lydia De Vega was married to her husband, Paul Mercado. Her husband was a former Meralco engineer. He previously used to work for a Philippine electric power distribution firm. He is also a successful entrepreneur with a fish pond business.
In 1990, the Filipino athlete was married to Mercado. From 1989 to 1991, she took a vacation from athletics to ponder her personal life.
She received a master’s degree and married the love of her life during this time. The beautiful pair was the parents of three children. Her husband doesn’t have a social media account.
In addition, the couple’s son, Jonathan, was killed in an automobile accident in February 2001. At the time, he was only four years old.
Lydia De Vega’s Daughter
Lydia De Vega has a daughter named Stephanie Mercado de Koenigswarter. She is a professional volleyball player.
Her gorgeous daughter was also a member of the college’s DSLU Lady Spikers volleyball team. She finished high school at St. Bridget School in Quezon City. She owns a degree in business studies from De La Salle University.
The beautiful daughter of an athlete is married to David Abesamis de Koenigswarter on January 10, 2020. She is the mother of a son.
The death of her mother has left her devastated and sad. She announced her mother’s death and expressed her grief via her official Facebook account. She stated that her mother had fought a courageous battle and was now at peace.
How Did Lydia De Vega Die?
Lydia De Vega passed away at age fifty-seven on August 10, 2022, due to cancer. She has been battling breast cancer for a long time.
In 2018, the former Olympian was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She was upfront about her condition and served as an example to cancer patients worldwide.
Her daughter, Stephanie, stated that her mother had brain surgery in July. She spoke about the critical condition of the Philippine Olympic athlete. Unfortunately, surgery could not save her. On August 10, she announced the death of her mother.
News of the athlete’s death has been viral on the internet, and her fans and well-wishers have flooded social media platforms with the tribute. We expressed condolences to her beloved family, and may the departed soul rest in peace.