Olympic athlete amputates body part so he can compete at 2024 Paris Games

An Olympic athlete has had a body part amputated so that he can compete at the 2024 Paris Games.

Competing at an Olympic Games is the pinnacle of any athlete's career and a goal they spend their whole sporting lives working towards.

Athletes around the world would do anything for a chance to take part in the iconic competition, and for one man, that includes losing a body part.

Australian hockey player Matthew Dawson has already competed a two Olympics, winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

But the 30-year-old's dream of winning Olympic gold looked to be over when he suffered a badly broken finger during a team training session just two weeks before the opening ceremony on Friday.

As reported by ABC News, When Dawson found out that the injury would take months to heal and would cost him his place in Paris, he took drastic action.

After consulting with doctors, he took the decision to have the injured finger on his right hand amputated.

Dawson soon returned to action and is expected to feature in Australia's opening game against Argentina on Saturday.

"There was a bit of shock within the team," Dawson’s teammate, Aran Zalewski, said about the decision to amputate.

Matthew Dawson had to have his finger amputated. [Getty]

"We didn't really know what to think. And then we heard that he went to the hospital and chopped his finger off, which was pretty interesting because I know people would give an arm and a leg and even a little bit of finger to be here sometimes.

"When you've spent a lifetime of choice and sacrifice to come and compete at the highest level, I think for him it was an easy decision,” Zalewski continued. “We've got his back. We're fully supportive of his decision. We played a game [on Monday] and he seems absolutely fine. It's great to see that his finger is going to be all right and he'll be able to play with us throughout the tournament."

• Finnish skier knocked out cold in horrific crash at Winter Olympic Games
• Olympic athlete won two medals at Paris Games despite not being named in his country's official squad
• Usain Bolt 'Ready' to Compete at 2028 Olympic Games in LA
• Olympic Athlete Was Banned from Games After 'Scandalous' Incident