openingtheplaybook
- Aug 18, 2020
- 2 min read

Episode 9: Diane Clement

Updated: Sep 4, 2020

Olympian and Athletics Pioneer Diane Clement talks how far women in sports have come

Today former Olympian and Athletics Pioneer Diane Clement joins the podcast to talk track, breaking barriers and the evolution of women in sport.

Diane started running as a teen and competed in her first Olympics in 1956 at the Melbourne Games. Since then, she’s attended eight more Games in various roles, and that passion has led her to play an instrumental role in the development of athletics for both men and women. Diane was the first female president of Athletics Canada, making her the first woman in the world to spearhead athletics. She also broke barrier by becoming the first female coach of the UBC Women’s Track and Field team. But her ambition didn’t end there. Diane is the proud co-founder of the Vancouver Sun Run, North America’s largest 10km run, and the Harry Jerome International Track Classic, an event that attracts some of the top talent from around the globe. Her work has led her to be honoured as a Member of Canada earlier this year (2020), which recognizes outstanding achievement and dedication to the community.

But it’s not all track and field for Diane. She also has a passion for food, having successfully published seven Canadian best-selling cookbooks and is the former owner of the Tomato Fresh Café in Vancouver.

Today on the podcast, Diane talks about witnessing and being a key part in how far women have come in sport, and shares a few of her favourite stories from over her 60-year career in track. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Quote:

“We’ve come such a long way. And to show that women have the ability, have the dedication to participate in whatever they want. No matter what the sport may be to me as a woman, we’ve come a long way.”

- Diane Clement, Olympian, Order of Canada recipient and Track Pioneer

Resources:

Vancouver Sun Run:

https://vancouversunrun.com

Harry Jerome International Track Classic:

https://www.harryjerome.com

Cookbooks:

Start Fresh!: Your Complete Guide To Mid-lifestyle Food And Fitness https://www.amazon.ca/Start-Fresh-Complete-Mid-lifestyle-Fitness/dp/1552859193/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=diane+clement&qid=1597019821&sr=8-5

Chef on the Run

https://www.amazon.ca/Chef-Run-DIANE-CLEMENT/dp/0888943687/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=diane+clement&qid=1597019821&sr=8-1

Chef on the Run: Simply the Best

https://www.amazon.ca/Chef-Run-Simply-Diane-Clement/dp/155192563X/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=diane+clement&qid=1597019821&sr=8-4