Olympic athlete amputates finger to keep Paris 2024 dreams alive after phone call with wife
Australian hockey player Matthew Dawson had his finger amputated
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Matthew Dawson has revealed that he had part of the ring finger on his right hand amputated in order to keep his Olympic hopes alive.
The Australian hockey player broke the top of his finger in the build-up to the Paris Olympics, putting his participation in jeopardy.
Instead of opting to rest up in a cast, Dawson took the shock decision to have the damaged part removed.
But Dawson has explained that the decision was not only made so that he could participate in Paris.
Australian hockey player Matthew Dawson had his finger amputated
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“I made an informed decision with the plastic surgeon at the time, not only for the opportunity to play in Paris but for life after as well,” Dawson told 7NEWS.
“The best option was for me to take the top of my finger off.
"It’s a bit of a change at the moment and an exciting challenge, I guess.
"There are plenty of other issues and other people going on with other stuff in their lives that are bigger than losing a finger, so I'm very fortunate that it's just a little bit of my finger.
"It would have been a different, tough conversation if it was a bit more, I reckon.
“I didn’t have much time to make the decision.
"I had made the decision and then I called my wife, and she said, ‘I don’t want you to make a rash decision', but I had all the information I needed to make the decision not for Paris but for life after.
"Hopefully, I can not take too long to get back to form."
Matthew Dawson called his wife after already deciding to cut his finger off
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Australia are one of the favourites to win the gold medal at this summer Olympics having won silver in Tokyo 2020.
Coach Colin Batch has admitted he wouldn't have been able to do what Dawson did in order to play in Paris.
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Australia are one of the favourites to win golf at the Olympics
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"The best way of recovering from it was just to chop the end of the finger off," Batch said.
"That's what he decided to do. It's not something a coach can decide for a player.
"Full marks to Matt. Obviously, he's really committed to playing in Paris. I'm not sure I would have done it, but he's done it, so great."