sportskeeda
NOA-LYNN van Leuven has made a significant mark in sports history by being the first trans woman to participate in a televised darts tournament.
She is poised to reach another remarkable milestone — on December 17, 2024, Van Leuven will become the first transgender player to compete in the PDC World Darts Championship.
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Noa-Lynn van Leuven secured her spot at Alexandra Palace with an impressive run in the Women’s Series.
She defeated women’s world No. 1 Beau Greeves 5-3 in the finals of Women’s Series 21, achieving a remarkable average of 109.64 during the match.
Van Leuven remarked: “This is a meaningful achievement for me and my community. However, I simply want to be recognized as Noa.
“I just want to compete in darts without the constant focus on my transgender identity.
“I am a darts player, and I excel at it.
“Nonetheless, it’s a tremendous honor, as I’m also the first Dutch woman to perform on the stage at Alexandra Palace.”
Who is Noa-Lynn van Leuven?
Noa-Lynn van Leuven was born on September 27, 1996, and she is a Dutch darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.
In 2023, she made history as the first trans woman to take part in a televised darts tournament.
Van Leuven began her transition in 2022 while simultaneously entering the Women’s Series.
She had previously revealed that before her transition, she contemplated quitting darts due to deep feelings of depression.
Michael van Gerwen responds after transgender Grand Slam rival Noa-Lynn van Leuven faced booing, stating, ‘What can you do?’
“I struggled to connect with others in the darts community. I was very unhappy with myself, which impacted my performance,” van Leuven recounted in an interview with Sky Sports.
“When your mental health is poor, every part of life is affected. I took a break from darts, but eventually wished to return to the sport.
“I endeavored to embrace life fully while undergoing extensive therapy with a psychologist.”
When not breaking barriers in the darts arena, Van Leuven works as a chef de partie at a local restaurant in Heemskerk, a small town near Amsterdam.
I think it’s tough for transgender individuals to participate in sports, especially when they’re publicly recognized as trans, as they are often assumed to have an unfair advantage until proven otherwise.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Additionally, she has acted as a mediator, providing support to transgender individuals.
What competitions has Noa-Lynn van Leuven won?
Van Leuven first began competing in the 2022 PDC Women’s Series.
She reached the quarter-finals in both events 13 and 14 of the Women’s Series but was ultimately defeated by Beau Greaves 4–2 and Laura Turner 4–3, respectively.
At the 2023 Dutch Open, Van Leuven entered as the 15th seed and advanced to the semi-finals, only to be eliminated by Aileen de Graaf.
Nonetheless, she secured her victory at the Denmark Open in 2023 by defeating Irina Armstrong.
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Her impressive journey continued in March 2024, when van Leuven won the PDC Women’s Series, shortly after achieving victory over male competitors in a mixed event.
Van Leuven underwent rigorous transitioning evaluations to qualify for competing in women’s darts.
The Darts Regulation Authority, which oversees the PDC, states that “Darts is inclusive for all, and we encourage participation from trans and non-binary individuals.”
This inclusive stance has allowed Van Leuven to fully engage in the sport that she loves.
She also empathizes with other sports that restrict trans athletes from competing in their desired categories.
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She expressed to Sky Sports: “I feel heartbroken for those impacted by such negativity.
“Engaging in sports can be especially challenging for transgender individuals, particularly when they are publicly identified as such, due to the immense pressure to prove their capabilities are not unfair.
Van Leuven has been open about receiving death threats following the withdrawal of some of her Dutch teammates from the national team.
In March 2024, Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf left the national women’s team, citing objections to playing alongside a trans woman.
Van Leuven reflected: “We all remember when my Dutch teammates stepped down.
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“I was inundated with hostile messages on social media.
“Some people even recognized me in public. Most were supportive, though.
“However, the hateful messages, including death threats, were incredibly overwhelming. How many did I receive? At that time, it was a daily occurrence.
“Yet, my love for this game drives me forward, and I will not cease playing.”
Is Noa-Lynn van Leuven on social media?
Van Leuven actively engages with her followers through her social media platforms.
You can follow her on Instagram with her popular handle @noalynn180.
On Twitter/X, van Leuven shares regular updates on her channel @dartsnoa.
