Group Captain Donald Osborne Finlay, DFC, AFC (27 May 1909 – 18 April 1970) was a British athlete and Royal Air Force officer.

Born on 27 May 1909, Donald Osborne Finlay was educated in Southampton, where he attended Taunton's Secondary School.

In 16 international dual meets, Finlay only lost two hurdles races: to Lord Burghley in 1931 (vs. Italy) and to John Thornton in 1937 (vs.

[1] He first competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, United States in the 110 metre hurdles where he won the bronze medal.

He returned to the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany where he improved to win the silver medal in the 110 metre hurdles.

[1] He was the British Team Captain in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and was chosen to take the Olympic Oath,[6] though he failed to win any medals in these Games when he was eliminated in the first round of the 110 metre hurdles event, hitting the last hurdle with his leading foot and falling at the finish.

608 Squadron RAF, flying Lockheed Hudsons in the Middle East from December 1943 to July 1944.

He took the offered three yard start in full running kit, unlike all the other entrants who were in shirts and rolled-up trousers.

Finlay was stationed for much of his time at RAF Acklington, whose chapel contains a later-dedicated stained glass window to honour him.

Finlay was severely injured and paralysed in a motor vehicle accident in 1966, which led to his death on 19 April 1970, aged sixty.