Lydia De Vega, a legendary Filipino athlete who once claimed the title of Asia’s fastest woman, passed away on Wednesday at the Makati Medical Center.
De Vega is one of the most illustrious Filipino athletes in history, given the numerous medals she brought home from the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and Asian Athletics Championships.
She dominated the 100-meter dash events at the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games, earning Asia’s fastest woman’s title in the 1980s.
The Bulacan sprinter from Meycauayan also competed for his nation in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.
Where Is Lydia De Vega Husband Paul Mercado?
Lydia De Vega and her husband, Paul Mercado, a former Meralco engineer, are believed to have been married for over 30 years.
Her husband is currently a business owner working in the fish pond industry. Furthermore, based on the age of her daughter, it is thought that Lydia may have been 25 years old when she got married.
The duo had three children with him. One of them is Stephanie (Penang), their daughter, a former collegiate volleyball player for the DLSU Lady Spikers.
In 2011, the athlete’s four-year-old son John Michael was killed in an automobile accident. Similarly, their son, Paulo Mercado Jr., was pictured with his parents at his sister’s wedding in 2020.
Obituary: Filipino Athlete Death After Long Battle With Breast Cancer At Age 57
Lydia de Vega, a legendary track athlete from the Philippines, died on Wednesday, August 10, following a four-year fight with breast cancer at age 57.
Stephanie “Paneng” Mercado-de Koenigswarter, De Vega’s daughter, shared an obituary on social media late Wednesday, writing, “She fought the very good fight and is finally at peace.”
On July 20, last year, Mercado-De Koenigswarter revealed her mother’s illness, stating that the Filipino sports legend is “in critical condition.”
As the retired athlete has been battling stage 4 breast cancer since 2018, her daughter pleaded with the public for prayers and donations.
The Philippine sports legend was confined to the Makati Medical Center at the time, and Mercado-De Koenigswarter described De Vega’s condition as “the biggest race of her life.” Although De Vega could not communicate, the family remained optimistic that she could hear them talking to her.
Her Daughter Stephanie Mercado Shared The News On Her Fb Page
Lydia’s daughter, Stephanie Mercado, shared the news of her death on her Facebook page. She is currently mourning the death of her mother with her family.
Stephanie, born in the Philippines on July 1, 1989, is a well-known volleyball player, just like her mother.
The professional volleyball player began her career with the De La Salle University Lady Spikers. In 2018, she inked a contract with the Petro Gazz Angels of the Premier Volleyball League.
Additionally, she was due to give birth to her first child with husband David De Koenigswarter five months after they wed in January 2020.
Their son, born in October 2020, is now one year old.
Lydia De Vega’s Net Worth At The Time Of Death
Lydia De Vega’s successful athletic career may have brought her a sizable income back then. However, her exact income and net worth were never disclosed.
In addition, her net worth value at the time of her death was unknown since the family had requested donations for her treatment a few months earlier.
De Vega-Mercado, who has been bravely battling illness for the past four years, received a donation of P500,000 from horse owner and Philracom Chairman Reli De Leon, who declined to be identified.
According to the Manila Bulletin, Stephanie de Koenigswarter, the daughter of de Vega-Mercado, allegedly received financial assistance.
In the meantime, the de Vega-Mercado family received P500,000 financial support from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).