Diay and me

In my last column, I wrote how Covid-19 gave me time to tinker on my files and photos. Well, here is one more. In the 1991 Manila SEA Games, I met Asia’s sprint queen Lydia De Vega for the first time. Just like most fans, I asked for Lydia’s autograph. Little did I know that in the future she would also ask for my autograph when I became Nike Philippines sports events coordinator.  We were sponsoring Lydia’s track shoes although she always preferred the PATAFA-issued Asics. Soon we became good friends and I started calling her “Diay”. That’s what close relatives and friends call her. Here’s some facts on Diay. On December 11, 1981 (Manila SEA Games), then 16-year-old Lydia De Vega won gold medal in the 200 meter dash in 23:44 (which was recently broken by Fil-Am Zion Nelson (23:24 and 23:16) before another Fil-Am Christina Knott broke it further by clocking 23:07 in last year’s SEA Games in Tarlac City.  In the 1981 Games, Diay also won the 400 meter run.  In the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, India, Diay crowned herself Asia’s fastest woman when she won the 100 meters in 11:76 and shattered this record in the Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea with a time of 11:53.  Then in 1987 she clocked 11:28, A record that is still unbroken until this day.  A lot of guys were training their sights on Diay but she was “heavily guarded by his father-coach Tatang Mercado. She’s currently working in Singapore as children’s athletics coach. Diay is married to Engr. Paolo Mercado.

Did you know?

DUKE KAHANAMOKU won three Olympic gold medals as a swimmer but he had a bigger impact on the sport of urfing. He traveled extensively to give swimming and introduced surfing to a wider audience. In 1982, Duke used his board to rescue eight sailors whose boat had capsized and ferried them to shore. In the 1924 Paris Olympics, Kahalamoku was beaten by American Johnny Weismuller  in his favorite freestyle, which was held for the first time in a 50m pool with marked lanes.  Weismuller went on to become famous in Hollywood, starring as Tarzan in many films.  Duke Kahanamoku is regarded as the father of surfing.

FREDRICK LORZ was crowned champion in the marathon event in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics in the race that started on a hot and humid day  with temperatures soaring to 90 degrees. Eighteen out of 32 starters failed to finish.  Officials however were informed that Lorz had actually dropped out after 9 miles, but rode on car and ran the final 5 miles. “Nanikas Diay si Lorz” who was banned in future races. British born Thomas Hicks who was declared winner and running for the United States, was also cited for eating raw eggs while taking brandy during the run.  He also had strychnine shots.  He required medical assistance following the race but was not disqualified.