Diane Jones-Konihowski
Encyclopedia
Diane Jones-Konihowski, (born March 7, 1951) is a former Canadian
pentathlete who won two gold medals at two Pan-American Games, as well as representing Canada at two Summer Olympics.
Jones-Konihowski was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and raised in Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
. She graduated from the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan
. She competed for Canada at the 1972 Summer Olympics
, placing tenth and the 1976 Summer Olympics
, placing sixth. Considered to be a medal contender for the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow, a third appearance at the Olympics failed to materialize as Canada was one of the countries that chose to boycott the games due to the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Although Jones-Konihowski considered competing as an individual, she ultimately decided against it. She won a gold medal in the pentathlon at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
. She retired from competition in 1983. She was Chef de Mission of the 2000 Canadian Olympic Team
in Sydney, Australia.
In 1978, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. She was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, the Canadian Olympic Sports Hall of Fame
in 1996, and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2002. She was also awarded the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award
and the Velma Springstead Trophy
. In 2002, she was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
In 1977, she married John Konihowski, a professional football player for the Edmonton Eskimos
and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
.
She lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she is the President and partner of Premiere Executive Suites. In 2005, she was elected to the board of directors of the Canadian Olympic Committee
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
pentathlete who won two gold medals at two Pan-American Games, as well as representing Canada at two Summer Olympics.
Jones-Konihowski was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and raised in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. She graduated from the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
. She competed for Canada at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, placing tenth and the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, placing sixth. Considered to be a medal contender for the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow, a third appearance at the Olympics failed to materialize as Canada was one of the countries that chose to boycott the games due to the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Although Jones-Konihowski considered competing as an individual, she ultimately decided against it. She won a gold medal in the pentathlon at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
1978 Commonwealth Games
The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...
. She retired from competition in 1983. She was Chef de Mission of the 2000 Canadian Olympic Team
Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Canada competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.The final days of the Olympics for Canada was shadowed by the death and state funeral of Pierre Trudeau, their 15th prime minister...
in Sydney, Australia.
In 1978, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. She was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, the Canadian Olympic Sports Hall of Fame
Canadian Olympic Sports Hall of Fame
The Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame is an honor roll of the top Canadian Olympic athletes, teams, coaches, and builders . It was established in 1949. Selections are made by a committee appointed by the Canadian Olympic Committee...
in 1996, and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2002. She was also awarded the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award
Bobbie Rosenfeld Award
The Bobbie Rosenfeld Award is an annual award given to Canada's female athlete of the year. The sports writers of the Canadian Press first conducted a poll to determine the nation's top female in 1933, naming golfer Ada Mackenzie the winner. The CP formalized the poll into an award in 1978,...
and the Velma Springstead Trophy
Velma Springstead Trophy
The Velma Springstead Trophy is an award presented annually to Canada's outstanding female athlete. It is named in honour of track athlete Velma Springstead whose career ended prematurely when she died from pneumonia in 1927 when only 20 years old. The Women's Amateur Athletic Federation of Canada...
. In 2002, she was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
In 1977, she married John Konihowski, a professional football player for the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
.
She lives in Calgary, Alberta, where she is the President and partner of Premiere Executive Suites. In 2005, she was elected to the board of directors of the Canadian Olympic Committee
Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee - COC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian athletes in the International Olympic Committee and the Pan American Games. It was formally recognized by the IOC in 1907. The COC also represents the selection of Canadian cities in their bid for...
.