Saturday morning the Lenoir City pool will officially be renamed the "Claire Donahue Aquatic Center."
A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the pool and is to be followed by a brief reception.

Mayor Tony Aikens is expected to say a few words about the renaming of the pools, as is Lenoir City Parks and Recreation Director Steve Harrelson, who will then turn the stage over to Donahue herself, who will end the ceremony with a few words of her own.

"We're excited about it," Harrelson said. "Actually having an Olympian that brought home a gold medal, that's something exciting that not many cities can say they have."

Donahue received the key to the city during half time of the Lenoir City, Loudon football game Aug. 23. It was also announced that Aug. 23 would be known moving forward as Claire Donahue Day in Lenoir City.

"It's been said that it's not every day we have an Olympian from Lenoir City," Aikens said. "It's something we've had planned. It's very fitting."

When Donahue was at Lenoir City High School and a member of the swim team, the only swimmer in school history to win a state championship, the pool was not available, forcing swimmers on the team to travel to different locations for practice.

"When she was going to swim lessons at Lenoir City High School there wasn't a place in Lenoir City," Aikens said. "It's very fitting we name the pool after her."

The experience of traveling to train is something that has been a part of Donahue's life through college as well, with Western Kentucky University not having an Olympic-sized pool available on campus.

After returning from the Olympics Donahue had kind words for the people of Lenoir City and the support they provided her during her run at the Olympic games in both the 100-meter butterfly and 4x100-meter medley relay.