COLOMBES, France (AP) — Olympic athletes come in all shapes and sizes. It’s rare for them to be voluntarily amputated.
Australian field hockey player Matthew Dawson has taken his determination to compete at the Paris Olympics to the next level by amputating part of a finger to ensure he can take part.
Dawson, 30, seriously injured the ring finger of his right hand two weeks ago during training. Surgery would have required months of recovery, jeopardizing his chances of being ready for the Olympics.
Captain Aran Zalewski said his teammates were in shock. Dawson’s wife warned against making any “rash choices”. Despite this, Dawson told Australia’s 7News he had made “an informed decision”.
Considering himself “very lucky that it was just a little piece of my finger,” Dawson sees the sacrifice as part of the commitment needed to pursue his “Olympic dream” — much like the years of training and difficult personal decisions that define an athlete’s life.
He believes the prospect of winning a gold medal, especially after silver at Tokyo 2020, is worth overshadowing the long-term consequences.
Although the amputation represents a “small change at the moment”, he told Australian television, it does not hamper his playing style or ability to perform because he still has “full function and movement” in the finger.
This isn’t the first time Dawson has faced adversity in his career. He was hit in the left eye with a stick six years ago, between his two previous Olympic appearances.
Australia play their first group match on Saturday against Argentina.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paris-olympics-2024
