 He competed in the pentathlon for the United States team during the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden where he won the bronze medal.On winner Jim Thorpe's subsequent disqualification for professionalism in 1913, Donahue was declared vice-champion (silver medalist).In 1982 Thorpe was reinstated as champion by the IOC; however, Donahue was still to be considered vice-champion (silver medalist).