Lydia de Vega

Maria Lydia de Vega-Mercado (; December 26, 1964 – August 10, 2022) was a Filipina athlete who was considered Asia's fastest woman in the 1980s.

Athletic career De Vega was discovered in the Palarong Pambansa in the 1970s, and was recruited to be a part of Far Eastern University Tamaraws varsity track team. She then became a member of the Gintong Alay track and field program. She was coached by her father Francisco "Tatang" de Vega who was assisted by Claro Pellosis. Santos Magno and Anthony Benson later joined her training staff.

In 1982, de Vega starred as herself in a film based on her own life titled Medalyang Ginto , directed by Romy Suzara and written by novelist Edgardo M. Reyes. She signed a contract in the presence of 27-year-old Philippine Olympic Committee president Michael Marcos Keon, and received ₱35,000 for starring in the film.

As Asia's sprint queen, she ran away with the gold medal in the 100-meter dash in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi She developed a rivalry with Indian athlete P. T. Usha.

De Vega won the gold in the 100 meters at the SEA Games (1987, 1991 and 1993). She also topped the 200 meter event in 1981, 1983, 1987 and 1993. She has twice won both the 100 and 200 meter golds in the Asian Athletics Championships – 1983 and 1987. As a 16-year old in the 1981 edition, she placed second in the 400 meter run and also bagged the bronze medal in the 200 meters.

De Vega was a two-time Olympian, represented the Philippines at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics. She retired from her athletic career in 1994.

Later life and death De Vega was elected as councilor of her native Meycauayan town in Bulacan province in 2001. In early 2005, she was appointed a liaison officer of the Alliance of Coaches and Athletes of the Philippines with the Philippine Sports Commission.

In December 2005, De Vega went to Singapore after receiving three job offers from Singaporean private schools to handle athletics. She coached young athletes in Singapore.

In 2018, De Vega was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Over the next four years she underwent several procedures including a brain surgery.

She was one of the flag bearers of the official SEA Games flag at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.

In July 2022, De Vega was reportedly "in critical condition". De Vega's family mausoleum at Pandayan, Meycauayan Cemetery.

Personal life De Vega's father was Francisco "Tatang" De Vega, Sr. (August 13, 1928 – December 26, 2010), who was also her coach. Singaporean athlete Jacter Singh was her long-time partner. They first met at the 1979 Asean Schools Track and Field Championships in Singapore and were together for six years prior to both of them entering separate marriages.

De Vega would marry another man named Paul Mercado in 1990, On February 13, 2001, her four-year-old son John Michael (JM) (October 31, 1996 – February 13, 2001) died in a car accident.

De Vega ended her marriage with Mercado. Singh divorced his wife the same year. De Vega and Singh would then restart their relationship. In 2018, De Vega was inducted to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.