I feel very blessed to have competed in the first Canada Winter Games (1967) in Quebec City as a volleyball player, and in the first Canada Summer Games (1969) in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in the sport of track & field. I won Saskatchewan's only gold medal in the pentathlon event, and came home with a silver medal in the high jump behind Debbie Brill. My husband John won a bronze in the triple jump, and so between the two of us, we brought home a full set of medals. These Games were not only special because of the medals, they were extra special because it was at these Games that I "hustled" John - and we have been together ever since! Hard to believe it has been 40 years.
I have always been a big fan of the Canada Games movement because it is a great breeding ground for Canada's future Olympians. It provides a very valuable opportunity for young athletes to experience a real-life Games environment that will better prepare them for future international Games. Many of our national team members come from the Canada Games movement.
Our eldest daughter Janna also had the opportunity to experience the Summer Games. She competed in London, Ontario in 2001 representing Alberta in volleyball, and in 2005 in Regina, Saskatchewan she was a member of the track & field team in the event of shot put. Like mother like daughter I guess.
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| Diane Jones Konihowski, 1969 Gold Medalist. |
Tell us about yourself
I am presently living in Calgary and semi-retired. The majority of my time is spent volunteering. I am Chair of KidSport Alberta and Co-Chair of KidSport Canada. We raise money to help with registration fee and equipment costs for children who cannot afford to play sport. I am also a member of the Heart Truth Council for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. I am also a Session Member with the Canadian Olympic Committee and an Ambassador for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. More importantly, I am the mum of two daughters Janna & Alana and life partner to John. We are also the proud owners of Tia - our little bichon shih-tzu who definitely has us trained!!!!!
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