Athletics legend Lydia De Vega dies

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) – Filipino athletics legend Lydia De Vega, who once held the throne as Asia's fastest woman, died on Wednesday at the Makati Medical Center. She was 57.

De Vega’s daughter Stephanie announced her mother's death on Wednesday night.

"She fought the very good fight and is now at peace," she said.

De Vega is one of the most decorated Filipino athletes in history after she brought home numerous medals in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and Asian Athletics Championships.

She was dubbed Asia’s fastest woman in the 80s after ruling the 100-meter dash events in the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games.

The sprinter out of Meycauayan, Bulacan also represented the country in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

The Filipino sports icon retired from competition in 1994. She held the 100-meter and 200-meter run national records for over three decades.

De Vega was last seen by the public in 2019, as she was among the flag bearers during the opening ceremony of the 30th Southeast Asian Games held at the Philippine Arena.

Last July 20, Stephanie posted on her social media account that her mother was in a “very critical” condition due to complications caused by stage 4 breast cancer. 

Stephanie, a former volleyball player for De La Salle University, also revealed that her mother has been silently battling cancer since 2018.

Stephanie said details of De Vega’s wake will be announced soon.