In an official statement released by Malacanang, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. condoled with the family and loved ones of sprint queen Lydia de Vega on her passing on 10 August after a four-year battle with breast cancer. He celebrated de Vega’s legacy as once “the fastest woman in Asia” and among the country’s brightest, most bemedaled sports champions in the 1980s.
“Lydia de Vega has run her last race,” Marcos Jr. said. “She has fought a good fight. Let us pray for her peace.”
The President’s full statement:
I join 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. She won the 100-meter gold medal in the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games. She ruled the sprint double in the Asian Athletics Championship in 1983 and 1987. She is also a nine-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist. All in her favorite event, the 100-meter dash.
Lydia was also a two-time Olympian, having represented the Philippines in the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics.
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.