By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
PIGEON FORGE (WATE) - East Tennessee native and Olympic swimmer Claire Donahue can now add gold medal winner to her list of credits.
Claire swam in the 4x100 medley qualifying relay Friday.
On Saturday's finals race, the U.S. team won gold and broke the world record with a time of 3:52.05.
Even though Claire did not swim in the race Saturday, she will get her first Olympic medal for helping the team qualify.
Claire's parents just got back from London after watching their daughter compete.
Her father, Chris Donahue, was able to watch the final Saturday at Huck Finn's Catfish in Pigeon Forge where he is the general manager.
"It's exciting," Donahue said. "It's a team effort. She swam yesterday, so this has always been a possibility to get a medal, so I know she's really happy to participate and be part of that."
"We are so excited for her,"Huck Finn's Catfish owner Karen Moore said. "We are thrilled. We know she's worked so hard for this."
What makes this day even more special is that Claire won the gold medal on her mother's birthday.
Donahue said watching Claire compete in the Olympics was a surreal experience.
"It's hard to describe," Donahue said. "I don't know if there are really words for it. You are there, and you're taking it all in."
Donahue said Claire will take a little break after the Olympics, but plans to continue swimming competitively.
"I think way out there she's thinking Brazil in 2016," Donahue said.
At Huck Finn's Catfish they are still selling the Claire Donahue Special: Fish and Chips.
"It's selling very well," Moore said. "I'm hoping if I get some time pretty soon I can put it on the actual menu."
In the meantime, Donahue just wants his daughter to know how proud he is of her.
"Hey Baby, I love you," Donahue said. "Looking forward to you coming home, can't wait to see you again. You've done good. Great attitude, great heart in the whole process, so proud to be your dad, so proud you represented this country so well."
