Lydia de Vega

Lydia de Vega was born in Meycauayan in 1964 and was one of 10 children. She was 12 years old when her sprinting talent was spotted. After attending the Far Eastern University in Manila, she also took up acting, appearing in a film in 1983.

Her dominance in athletics during the 1980s earned her the distinction of being named the fastest woman in Asia. At the Asian Games, she became the first sprinter to win back-to-back gold medals in the 100 metres, winning in New Delhi in 1982 and four years later in Seoul. Also in Seoul, she won silver in the 200 metres. Along with her success at the Asian Games, she won four golds, a silver and four bronze medals at five editions of the Asian Athletics Championships, and nine gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games. She was named the Philippines Athlete of the Year in 1981, 1986 and 1987.

De Vega retired from athletics in 1994. For the last 16 years of her life, she lived and worked in Singapore as an athletics coach in private schools. She died in August 2022, at the age of 57, following a four-year battle with breast cancer.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.28 (1987); 200 – 23.35 (1986).