Australian Hockey Player Amputates Finger for Olympics

Australian field hockey player Matthew Dawson chose to amputate the top of his ring finger to ensure he could compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics after breaking it during pre-Olympic competition. Dawson made this significant decision after consulting with a plastic surgeon, considering both the opportunity to play in Paris and his long-term health. Dawson, who has been part of Australia's national team since 2014, previously won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. His decision underscores a remarkable level of commitment and has been praised by his coach, Colin Batch. Despite the severity of the situation, Dawson remains positive and sees it as an exciting challenge. This is not the first serious injury he has faced, having nearly lost an eye in 2018 during practice.