Australian hockey player amputates part of finger to compete at Paris Games
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Australia's Matt Dawson (left) fights for the ball during the men's semi-final match at the FIH Odisha Field Hockey Men's World Cup 2023, in Bhubaneswar on Jan 27, 2023.
PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE – Australian field hockey player Matt Dawson has gone to extraordinary lengths to compete at the Paris Olympics, amputating part of a finger to ensure he will be fit for his third Games.
The 30-year-old, a silver medallist at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics three years ago, was a doubt for Paris after recently breaking the ring finger on his right hand.
Doctors gave him a choice of amputating part of his finger or letting it recover over time in a cast. Only one way would ensure he got to the French capital to compete.
“I didn’t have much time to make the decision,” he told Australian broadcaster Seven Network.
“I made the decision then I called my wife and she said, ‘I don’t want you to make a rash decision’.
“But I guess I had all the information I needed to make a decision for not only playing in Paris, but for life after and giving myself the best health. It’s a bit of a change at the moment and an exciting challenge, I guess.”
The Seven Network showed footage of Dawson, who underwent surgery this week, wearing a protective black guard over his finger.
“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 added.
The Australian men’s coach praised him for his courage and commitment.
“The best way of recovering from it was to just chop the end of the finger off,” Colin Batch said.
“So 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.”
In other Olympic news, gymnast Shoko Miyata has been withdrawn from Japan’s team after being caught smoking and drinking in Tokyo, officials said on July 19.
The 19-year-old, a world bronze medallist and captain of Japan’s women’s gymnastics team, was sent home from their training camp in Monaco and admitted she had violated their code of conduct.
Smoking and drinking are both illegal under the age of 20 in Japan. REUTERS, AFP
