Olympic hockey player has finger amputated to play at games

Extraordinary lengths to play

Matt Dawson, 30, was a silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 games but was a doubt for Paris after breaking the ring finger on his right hand.

Doctors then gave Dawson an ultimatum of either getting part of his finger amputated or allowing it to recover entirely but at risk of missing the games.

'I had all the information I needed to make a decision'

Having made the decision to operate, Dawson will travel to France with the Australia squad where he is expected to feature in their Pool B opener against Ireland on July 29.

Speaking about the decision to operate, the 30-year-old said he feels he's made the right call both for his career and life going forward.

"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."

Footage from the Aussie news channel showed Dawson wearing a protective black guard over his finger.

Australia, runners-up up to Belgium at Tokyo, will hope to go one better in Paris where the hockey tournament starts 27 July.

Related links:

• France ban French female athletes from wearing hijabs at the Olympics
• Volleyball player convicted of raping a 12-year-old set to compete in Paris Olympics
• 18-year-old dies in tragic accident weeks before Olympic debut