Field hockey players can be just as tough as ice hockey competitors.
Australian field hockey player Matt Dawson has made it clear that he will be playing at the 2024 Paris Olympics no matter what.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Matt Dawson broke the ring finger on his right hand weeks before Australia was due to compete in the Olympics. Rather than miss the Summer Games, he decided to amputate part of his ring finger. (Luis Veniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Dawson broke the ring finger on his right hand weeks before Australia was due to compete in the Olympics. Rather than sit out the games he had worked hard to compete in, Dawson decided to amputate part of his ring finger.
“I made an informed decision with the plastic surgeon at the time, not just for the opportunity to play in Paris but for life afterwards,” she told Australian broadcaster 7News. “The best option for me was to have the tip of my finger removed. It's a change at the moment and an exciting challenge, I guess.”
USA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM NEARLY AVOIDS SHOCKING UPSET AGAINST SOUTH SUDAN AFTER BEING FAVORED BY MORE THAN 45 POINTS
Matt Dawson broke the ring finger on his right hand weeks before Australia was due to compete in the Olympics. Rather than miss the Summer Games, he decided to amputate part of his ring finger. (Luis Veniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“I didn't have much time to make the decision. I had already made the decision and then I called my wife and she said, 'I don't want you to make a hasty decision, but I had all the information I needed to make the decision, not for Paris, but for life after. I hope it won't take me too long to get back in shape.'”
Australia won the silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after winning their group. The team ended up losing the gold medal match to Belgium.
The team will enter the Olympics with victories last month over Great Britain and Germany.
Matt Dawson announces Australia's field hockey squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on 1 July 2024. (Will Russell/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Australia will begin their road back to the podium with a match against Argentina on July 27. The team will then play Ireland, Belgium, New Zealand and India before the qualifying matches begin.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on X and subscribe to The Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
