Winners: Diane Jones-Konihowski, Athletics
Diane Jones-Konihowski (first) in the 800m event of the pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
Date: August 6, 1978
Collection: CP photo/Colin Price
1978 - Feature Story
There is always extra pressure on athletes competing in a major event in their home country, and even more so when the competition is virtually in their backyard. Indeed, all eyes were on 27-year-old pentathlete Diane Jones-Konihowski of Edmonton when the 1978 Commonwealth Games were contested in the Alberta city. Jones-Konihowski, a two-time Olympian and 1975 Pan-American Games pentathlon champion, was favoured to win her five-event discipline. She didn’t disappoint the clearly partisan crowd at Commonwealth Stadium. Establishing a Canadian record and world season’s best, 4,768 points, she took the pentathlon Gold medal as Queen Elizabeth and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau watched in admiration. She was named a Member of the Order of Canada and finished 1978 as the world’s number one ranked pentathlete.
Career Highlights
- 2002 Inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
- 1979 Gold medal in pentathlon at the Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 1978 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (Canada’s female athlete of the year)
- 1978 Gold medal in the pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada
- 1975 Gold medal in pentathlon at the Pan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico
Diane Jones-Konihowski competing in the shot put event of the Pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Date: July 21, 1970
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Competition shoes worn by Diane Jones-Konihowski.
Date: 1970’s
Collection: Courtesy of athlete
Diane Jones-Konihowski (centre) competing in the hurdle event of the pentathlon.
Date: 1970’s
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Diane Jones-Konihowski carrying the Queen’s baton at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
Date: August 1978
Collection: Courtesy of athlete
Diane Jones-Konihowski in mid-jump.
Date: 1978
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Shirt worn by Diane Jones-Konihowski in the pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
Date: August 1978
Collection: Courtesy of athlete
Diane Jones-Konihowski (first) competing in the pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
Date: August 1978
Collection: Courtesy of athlete
Competition bib worn by Diane Jones-Konihowski in the pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
Date: August 1978
Collection: Courtesy of athlete
Diane Jones-Konihowski on the podium after winning Gold in the pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
Date: August 1978
Collection: Courtesy of athlete
Gold medal won by Diane Jones-Konihowski in the pentathlon at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
Date: August 1978
Collection: Courtesy of athlete
