Australian Hockey Player Matt Dawson Amputates Part of Injured Finger To Take Part at Paris Olympics 2024
The 30-year-old broke the ring finger of his right hand which had cast a shadow of uncertainty over his participation at Paris Olympics 2024. Australian men's hockey team will start their campaign at Paris Olympics 2024 with a match against Argentina on July 17.
Several disciplines of sports over all these years have seen numerous tales of sacrifice, and this one is right up there! Australian men's hockey team player Matt Dawson chose to have a part of his finger, which was injured, amputated so that he could compete at the Paris Olympics 2024. Dawson's decision came after he suffered a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand, which made his participation at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 uncertain. The 30-year-old was faced with a tough choice: whether to put his finger in a cast and give it time to heal or cut off the affected part. In such cases, athletes would be expected to choose the first option, but not the 30-year-old, who did not want an injury to get in his way of representing the Kookaburras at the Paris Olympics 2024. On Which Channel Paris Olympics 2024 Will Be Telecast Live? How To Watch Summer Olympic Games Live Streaming Online? Check Viewing Options Of Multi-Sports Event in India.
In an interaction with 7News, Dawson explained the rationale behind this decision, which he called the 'best option.' “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. 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.” He further added, “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."
The 30-year-old, who is set to compete in what would be his third Olympics, also stated he was fortunate that a 'little' part of his finger had to be amputated. “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," he said. Dawson's decision received appreciation from Australia hockey head coach Colin Batch. Paris Olympics 2024 Mascot: All You Need to Know About ‘Olympic Phryge’ Ahead of Summer Games in France.
“Dawson is back in training now. He’s certainly set the bar high for anyone getting a broken finger in the future, but full marks to Matt; he’s made that decision and obviously really committed to playing in Paris,” he said. Dawson won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, and he will look to take his team all the way to the gold this time around. Australia will open its Paris Olympics 2024 campaign against Argentina on July 17.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2024 05:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).