Australian Field Hockey Star Matt Dawson Amputates Finger to Compete in Paris Olympics

Australian national field hockey player Matt Dawson has demonstrated his determination to participate in the Paris Olympics by amputating part of his finger to ensure he is ready in time for the event.

The 30-year-old athlete unfortunately sustained an injury while training for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Faced with the possibility of missing the event where he aims to win a gold medal after securing a silver in Tokyo, Dawson had a tough decision to make.

At that time, doctors gave him two options: amputate part of his finger or allow it to heal naturally, which would mean missing the Olympics.

Dawson’s situation was even more pressing because his event, along with soccer and handball, was scheduled to start early (from July 24).

Therefore, the only way to ensure he could compete in Paris was to amputate his finger. Dawson decided to undergo the surgery, which means he would not feel pain during competition and training, but his hand would be permanently disfigured.

It didn’t take long for Dawson to make his decision. He underwent the surgery, and the 30-year-old appeared in public with his finger wrapped in a black bandage.

“I didn’t have much time to decide. I asked my wife, and she tried to dissuade me. She didn’t want me to rush,” Dawson shared with Australian media. “But I guess I had enough information to make the decision. It’s not just about competing in the Olympics; it’s also about life afterward.”

Dawson’s actions have garnered widespread praise. Even his coach was astonished. Coach Colin Batch admitted that he wouldn’t have dared to do what Dawson did.

“The best way to recover from the injury was to amputate the finger. That’s what he decided to do, and he did it. As a coach, I can’t make that decision for a player. It shows he really wants to play in Paris. I’m not sure I could do it, but he did, and it’s amazing,” Batch said.

Australia made headlines in Tokyo but lost to Belgium in the final, securing a silver medal. This year, with his extraordinary determination, Dawson hopes to bring home a gold medal for his team.