She won two gold medals at the 2011 Pan American Games and finished second at the 2011 National Championships in the 100-meter butterfly.

She earned a gold medal for swimming in the preliminary heats of the 4×100-meter medley relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

She has three siblings (Audrey, Zack, and Dean), and graduated from Lenoir City High School.

[5] Donahue qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly, but did not advance out of the opening round in either event.

[7] At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she turned in a personal best time of 57.42 seconds during the semi-finals of the 100-meter butterfly and advanced to the finals.

"[8] Later at the games, she swam the butterfly leg of the 4×100-meter medley relay for the U.S. team during the preliminary heats.

[9][10] In recognition of her success at the Olympic Games, her hometown, Lenoir City, Tennessee dedicated a new public swimming pool in her honor as the Claire Donahue Aquatic Center.