Meet the Olympian who has amputated his FINGER so he can take part in the Paris Games

Olympian Matthew Dawson has revealed why he took the incredible decision to have part of his finger amputated in order to compete in Paris this month.

Dawson, a veteran with the Australian men’s team, broke the ring finger on his right hand just weeks out from competing in France.

Instead of resting up in a cast, the two-time Olympian decided to have the affected part of his finger removed permanently.

He insists, however, that the call was equally about life after the Olympics as it was with the Games in mind.  

‘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 told 7NEWS via The West.

‘The best option was for me to take the top of my finger off. It’s a bit of a change at the moment and an exciting challenge, I guess.

‘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.

‘It would have been a different, tough conversation if it was a bit more, I reckon.

He made the decision in order to compete for Australia in Paris this month

‘I didn’t have much time to make the decision. I had made the decision, and then I called my wife, and she said, ‘I don’t want you to make a rash decision, but I had all the information I needed to make the decision not for Paris but for life after.

‘Hopefully, I can not take too long to get back to form.’ 

Dawson is battle-hardened when it comes to serious injuries. 

In 2018, the 30-year-old almost lost an eye after being hit with a stick. 

Australia coach Colin Batch commended Dawson for his desire and commitment to the cause.

‘It was a nasty knock,’ he said.

‘He saw the specialist, and they could have put it in a cast, but almost the best way of recovering from it was just to chop the end of the finger off, so that’s what he decided to do.

‘He decided to do that, and he’s back out there training now.

‘He’s certainly set the bar high for anyone getting a broken finger in the future, but full marks to Matt; he’s made that decision and obviously really committed to playing in Paris.’