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In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, athletes worldwide have been intensifying their training to gain an edge over their competitors. For Australian field hockey player Matt Dawson, however, preparations took an unusual and drastic turn this year. The 30-year-old opted to have part of his finger amputated to ensure his participation in the Games.
Dawson sustained a severe injury to the ring finger of his right hand when he was struck by a hockey stick during a practice match, just two weeks before he was set to represent the Kookaburras in Paris. The impact nearly severed the top of his finger, putting his Olympic dreams in jeopardy.
"It was pretty significant, the injury to the finger. When people around you see it and don't say anything, you obviously know it's pretty bad," Dawson told CNN Sport from Paris. "Things got moving pretty quickly. And all I remember someone saying was, 'We need to see a plastic surgeon.'"
The damage was so severe that the surgeon remarked it was fortunate the finger was still attached. Dawson faced a tough decision: he could either undergo reconstructive surgery, which involved inserting a wire into the finger and required four to six months of recovery—meaning he would miss the Olympics—or he could opt for amputation of the damaged part of the finger.
Dawson, who was part of the silver medal-winning team at Tokyo 2020, chose amputation to preserve his chance of competing in his third Olympics. Just nine days after the injury, on July 27, he joined the Kookaburras as they faced Argentina.
"This has obviously given me the best chance and best opportunity to play here. If I didn't take this action, I wouldn't be here," Dawson said of his surgery, which he believes provided him with "the best outlook" for life. "I'm very fortunate to still have as much finger as possible."
Reflecting on the whirlwind of emotions over the past two weeks, Dawson recounted initially fearing his Olympic aspirations were dashed, only to have hope restored swiftly. "I'm in the best position to be here, only 48 hours out from our first game, which is really exciting," he said.
Looking ahead, Dawson is eager for the opportunity to help his team achieve something special. "We were pretty close in Tokyo, and I think there's that burning desire and the drive within the group to continue to push ourselves and win that elusive title," he added.
