Australian Field Hockey Player Matthew Dawson Makes Unconventional Decision to Amputate Broken Finger to Compete in 2024 Olympics

Matthew Dawson, a 30-year-old Australian field hockey player, has made the bold decision to amputate his broken finger to ensure he can compete in the 2024 Olympics. The decision was made after Dawson broke his finger during training earlier this month, and a plastic surgeon told him that surgically repairing the digit would require months of recovery and may not fully restore function.

Dawson, who has already suffered a fractured eye socket and undergone hip surgery, did not want to miss out on representing his country for a third time. He chose to have the amputation from the knuckle up, which required him to miss only 10 days of training.

“I’m definitely closer to the end of my career than the start, and who knows? This could be my last Olympics, and if I felt that I could still perform at my best then that’s what I was going to do,” Dawson said in an interview with the Parlez Vous Hockey podcast.

Dawson’s teammates were stunned but not surprised by his decision. “When you’ve spent a lifetime of choice and sacrifice to come and compete at the highest level, I think for him it was an easy decision,” said Australian captain Aran Zalewski.

The decision has also received support from head coach Colin Bath, who said, “I’m not sure I would have done it, but he’s done it, so great.”

Dawson’s determination to compete in the Olympics is a testament to his dedication to his sport and his country. Despite the unconventional nature of his decision, Dawson is confident that he can still perform at his best with his new prosthetic finger.

Australia will begin group play in the 2024 Olympics on Saturday against Argentina.