Australian Olympian Matthew Dawson amputates top of finger to play for Kookaburras in Paris
An Aussie Olympian has made the extreme decision to have part of his finger amputated to ensure he could compete in Paris in a fortnight’s time.
Kookaburras veteran Matthew Dawson broke the ring finger on his right hand in the lead-up to the Games, and instead of putting the injury in a cast, he had it removed permanently.
However, the two-time Olympian said the decision was as much about life after the Olympics as it was about competing for the Kookaburras.
“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,” he told 7NEWS as the team departed Perth for France.
“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.
“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.
“It would have been a different, tough conversation if it was a bit more, I reckon.
“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.”
It’s not the first time Dawson’s career has been impacted by extreme injuries after nearly losing an eye to a Hockey stick blow six years ago.
Kookaburras coach Colin Batch said Dawson’s decision it was an incredible display of commitment.
“It was a nasty knock,” he said.
“He saw the specialist, and they could have put it in a cast, but almost the best way of recovering from it was just to chop the end of the finger off, so that’s what he decided to do.
Camera IconKookaburras player Matthew Dawson. Credit: Will Russell/Getty Images
“He decided to do that, and he’s back out there 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.”
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