AN 82-YEAR-OLD athlete who represented the Philippines in the 1964 Tokyo, Japan Olympics died Sunday, August 22, 2021.

Vina Quibrabet, a relative, said Filipino sprinter Nelly Restar died of heart disease.

Restar was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival, she said.

Restar’s death came a week after Provincial Board Member Jay Tejada and Kalibo Councilor Phillip Yerro-Kimpo issued a resolution recognizing her feat.

"I have sent requests to the Philippine Olympics Committee (POC) to recognize Restar. The POC is yet to respond to our requests," said Kimpo.

Recently, Ramon Dio, owner of the Kalibo Ostrich Farm, told SunStar that he gave P1,000 for the medical needs of Restar.

Restar was a resident of Barangay Tigayon, Kalibo. She was a member of the women’s track and field team of the Cebu Institute of Technology in the 1960s. (SunStar Philippines)