July 19th 2024.
Despite facing a major setback, Australian Olympian Matt Dawson was determined not to let his injury derail his dreams of winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 30-year-old hockey player had his sights set on the top prize after bringing home silver from Tokyo 2020, but a broken ring finger on his right hand threatened to shatter those hopes.
Faced with the difficult decision of either waiting for his finger to heal or amputating the top portion, Dawson chose the latter in a bid to not only compete in Paris, but to also ensure his long-term health. He underwent surgery last week before joining his team on their journey to France.
In an interview with Channel Seven, Dawson shared his thought process behind the decision. "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 said. "It's a bit of a change at the moment and an exciting challenge, I guess."
Despite the pressure and quick timeline, Dawson was confident in his choice. He even sought the opinion of his wife, who supported him after he explained the situation. "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," he shared.
Dawson's commitment to his sport is not surprising, as he has faced extreme injuries in the past, including nearly losing an eye in 2018. His coach, Colin Batch, praised his dedication and acknowledged that he may not have made the same decision in Dawson's shoes.
"It's not something a coach can decide for a player," Batch said. "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. He's back in training now and he's certainly set the bar high for anyone getting a broken finger in the future."
The Australia men's hockey team, who lost to Belgium in a nail-biting penalty shootout in the Tokyo final, will begin their journey to gold on July 27 against 2016 champions Argentina. Dawson, a two-time Olympian and son of former cricketer Trish Dawson, is hoping to reach 150 caps for Australia and add a gold medal to his impressive resume.
The Paris 2024 Olympics, set to kick off on July 26, will see athletes from around the world competing for the ultimate prize. With the United States coming out on top in Tokyo with 113 medals and 39 golds, the competition will undoubtedly be fierce. But for Dawson and his fellow Australian teammates, their sights are set on nothing less than the gold.
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