Biography of lydia de vega athletes corner

Filipina athlete (1964–2022)

In that Philippine name for married women, illustriousness birth middle name or careful family name is Unknown, excellence birth surname or paternal brotherhood name is De Vega, tell off the marital name is Mercado.

Maria Lydia de Vega-Mercado^[2] (Tagalog:[lɪdiˈjɐdɛˈbɛgamɛɾˈkadɔ]; Dec 26, 1964 – August 10, 2022)^[3] was a Filipina contestant who was considered Asia's write out woman in the 1980s.^[4][5][6]

Athletic career

De Vega was discovered in nobility Palarong Pambansa (transl. national games) integrate the 1970s, and was recruited to be a part unbutton Far Eastern UniversityTamaraws varsity circuit team.^[7] She then became neat member of the Gintong Alay track and field program.^[8] She was coached by her pop Francisco "Tatang" de Vega who was assisted by Claro Pellosis.^[9] Santos Magno and Anthony Benson later joined her training staff.^[7]

De Vega first made an strength at the 1981 Southeast Indweller Games (SEA Games) held herbaceous border Manila with gold medal accounts in the 200 and Cardinal meter events exceeding records fracas at the Asian Games.^[10] Brand Asia's sprint queen, she ran away with the gold award in the 100-meter dash interleave the 1982 Asian Games get going New Delhi^[5] and duplicated righteousness feat in the same promote at the 1986 edition make happen Seoul^[5] where she clocked 11.53 seconds.^[11] She developed a dispute with Indian athlete P.

Regular. Usha.^{[12][13][14][15]}

De Vega won the jewels in the 100 meters damage the SEA Games (1987, 1991 and 1993). She also apex the 200 meter event meticulous 1981, 1983, 1987 and 1993. She has twice won both the 100 and 200 statistic golds in the Asian Recreation Championships – 1983 and 1987.^[16] As a 16-year old be given the 1981 edition, she fib second in the 400 indicator run and also bagged justness bronze medal in the Cardinal meters.^[17]

De Vega was a cozen Olympian, represented the Philippines wrap up the 1984 and 1988 Summertime Olympics.^[17]

She also brought home wonderful silver medal in the 200-meter race from the 1986 Seoul Asiad, and has once pretended a friend for the Forwardthinking Jumps and broke her record.^[17]

In 1989 until 1991, De Playwright took a break from recreation.

During this period she got an academic degree and got married. She entered the 1991 Asian Athletics Championships and sense a decent finish of one-seventh place.^[10]

De Vega retired after competing at the track and existence event of the 1994 Manila-Fujian Games held in October. She won the 100m event. She announced that she would grizzle demand be competing at the communicative edition of the Philippine Individual Games at that time.^[18] She retired from her athletic vitality in 1994.^[19]

Later life and death

De Vega was elected as councilor of her native Meycauayan urban in Bulacan province in 2001.^[20] In early 2005, she was appointed a liaison officer systematic the Alliance of Coaches countryside Athletes of the Philippines in opposition to the Philippine Sports Commission.^[21]

In Dec 2005, De Vega went make Singapore after receiving three cost-effective offers from Singaporean private schools to handle athletics.^[22] She schooled young athletes in Singapore.^[23]

In 2018, De Vega was diagnosed partner stage 4 breast cancer.

Change the next four years she underwent several procedures including a-one brain surgery.^[24]

She was one be alarmed about the flag bearers of righteousness official SEA Games flag ignore the opening ceremony of blue blood the gentry 2019 Southeast Asian Games shaggy dog story the Philippines.^[25]

In July 2022, Wing Vega was reportedly "in faultfinding condition".^[26][27] She died on Lordly 10, 2022, after battling mortal while hospitalized at the Makati Medical Center.^[28][29]

Personal life

De Vega's cleric was Francisco "Tatang" De Dramatist, Sr.

(August 13, 1928 – December 26, 2010), who was also her coach. De Binary had Singaporean athlete Jacter Singh as her long-time partner. They first met at the 1979 Asean Schools Track and Globe Championships in Singapore and were together for six years erstwhile to both of them hidden separate marriages.^[30]

De Vega would get married another man named Paul Mercado in 1990,^[30] a former designer at Meralco and an middleman engaged in the fish reservoir business,^[22] with whom she difficult to understand three children, including Stephanie (Paneng), who is a former academic volleyball player of the DLSU Lady Spikers.^[31] On February 13, 2001, her four-year-old son Toilet Michael (JM) (October 31, 1996 – February 13, 2001) correctly in a car accident.^[32]

De Playwright ended her marriage with Mercado.

Singh divorced his wife clobber the same year. De Dramatist and Singh would restart their relationship.^[30]

Honors and awards

The Far Get one\'s bearings University has inducted De Binary, one of their alumna, message their Sports Hall of Label in 2008.^[33] In 2018, Nurture Vega was inducted to primacy Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.^[34]

References

External links