Donald Finlay

Don Finlay

Squadron Leader Don Finlay on his Spitfire IIA, 41 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, November 1940
Personal information
Born	27 May 1909 Christchurch, Hampshire, England
Died	18 April 1970 (aged 60) Great Missenden, England
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	110 m hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin throw
Club	Royal Air Force; Milocarian Athletic Club; Surrey AC, Kingston-upon-Thames
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	110 mH – 14.1w (1937), 14.3 (1938) HJ – 1.83 m (1938) LJ – 6.96 m (1938) SP – 11.68 m (1937) JT – 43.23 m (1937)
Medal record Representing  Great Britain Olympic Games 1936 Berlin 110 m hurdles 1932 Los Angeles 110 m hurdles European Championships 1938 Paris 110 m hurdles British Empire Games Representing  England 1934 London 120 yd hurdles

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

A member of Milocarian Athletic Club and Surrey Athletics Club (based in Kingston upon Thames), he represented Great Britain in three Olympics both pre- and post-World War II. 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. Germany).

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 was also a member of the British relay team which finished sixth in the 4×100 metre relay event. He returned to the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany where he improved to win the silver medal in the 110 metre hurdles. With the British relay team he was eliminated in the first round of the 4×100 metre relay competition.

He was the British Team Captain in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and was chosen to take the Olympic Oath, 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. In 1949, at the age of 40, he won his eighth AAA title and he was the AAA indoor champion in both 1937 and 1938.