'Set the bar high': Olympic hockey star Matthew Dawson's extreme sacrifice to secure spot to Paris
Updated . First published at
In an extreme show of dedication, Matthew Dawson made the sacrifice to amputate part of his finger to ensure his spot on the Australian Olympic hockey team in Paris.
The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist was in doubt for the Games after he broke his ring finger during the Kookaburras trial match.
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Dawson was provided with two options by doctors:: let it recover and be casted, or have it amputated, with the latter option the only way to guarantee him to compete in Paris.
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The 30-year-old confirmed he had little time to weigh up the options, with the Kookaburras scheduled to depart to the French capital on Wednesday.
Matthew Dawson showed off the finger in Paris. Nine
His commitment left Kookaburras teammates and coach Colin Batch in shock.
"The best way of recovering from it was just to chop the end of the finger off," Batch said.
"That's what he decided to do. It's not something a coach can decide for a player.
Matthew Dawson gave the top of his finger the chop. Getty
"Full marks to Matt. Obviously, he's really committed to playing in Paris. I'm not sure I would have done it, but he's done it, so great."
The Kookaburras will land in Paris on Thursday, alongside the Hockeyroos and the Boomers basketball team.
