Field hockey players can be just as tough as ice hockey players.
Australian men’s field hockey player Matt Dawson has made it clear that he intends to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics no matter what.
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Matt Dawson broke the ring finger on his right hand just weeks before he was due to compete for Australia at the Olympics. Instead of sitting out the Summer Olympics, he decided to have part of his finger amputated. (Luis Beniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Dawson broke the ring finger on his right hand just weeks before he was due to play for Australia at the Olympics, and rather than miss the competition he had trained so hard to play in, he decided to have part of his finger amputated.
“I made a well-informed decision with my plastic surgeon at the time, not just for the opportunity to play in Paris, but for the rest of my life,” he said. Australia’s 7News“For me, cutting off the tip of my finger was the best choice. It’s a bit of a change at the moment and an exciting challenge.”
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Matt Dawson broke the ring finger on his right hand just weeks before he was due to compete for Australia at the Olympics. Instead of sitting out the Summer Olympics, he decided to have part of his finger amputated. (Luis Beniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“I didn’t have much time to make a decision. After I made the decision, I called my wife and she said, ‘I don’t want you to make a rash decision, but you had all the information you needed to make a decision, not for Paris but for the rest of your life. Hopefully it won’t take too long to get back on track.'”
Australia won their group stage and won the silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but ultimately lost to Belgium in the gold medal game.
The team will qualify for the Olympics after wins over Great Britain and Germany last month.
Matt Dawson makes the announcement for the Australian field hockey team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on 1 July 2024. (Will Russell/Getty Images)
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Australia will begin their return to the podium with a match against Argentina on July 27. The team will then face Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand and India before the knockout matches begin.
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