Noa-Lynn van Leuven is a trans darts player. She recently complained that she is facing relentless bullying and discrimination. Van Leuven opened up about the constant harassment she endures both at tournaments and online.
“It’s just constant. I can’t go anywhere without being targeted, without being singled out and attacked,” van Leuven tells inews. “As soon as I walk into a venue, I can feel the eyes on me, the whispers, the judgment. It’s exhausting, but I just have to try and block it out and focus on my game.”
The abuse extends beyond the tournament halls, with van Leuven receiving a barrage of hateful messages on social media. “The things people say, the threats they make, it’s just unbelievable. But I try not to let it get to me, because I know I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m just trying to play the sport I love.”
Despite the challenges, van Leuven remains determined to continue in the sport. “I’m not going to let them win. I’m going to keep showing up, keep competing, and keep proving that I belong here. This is my passion, and I won’t let anyone take that away from me.”
Van Leuven’s journey has been fraught with controversy. At the Denmark Open quarter-final, darts player Deta Hedman chose to forfeit her match against van Leuven, making a statement against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. Hedman’s refusal led to van Leuven’s automatic advancement to the semi-finals.
Deta Hedman, a three-time WDF World Champion runner-up from Witham, UK, has been a vocal advocate for single-sex sports. She expressed her dissent on Facebook, emphasizing her belief in maintaining separate categories for male and female athletes. “For many months I’ve struggled with transgenders playing in the women’s world ranked events. I have thought this is wrong since day one.”
Hedman clarified on social media that her decision was based on her principles, not illness, as some reports suggested.
Van Leuven’s participation in women’s darts has also led to other notable reactions. Two female players, Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf, withdrew from the Dutch Women’s Team in protest. Their statements highlighted the deep-seated concerns within the female darts community regarding fair competition and gender parity.
Despite the controversy, van Leuven achieved significant success. Just days after winning a championship against men, she claimed the £2,500 prize in the PDC Women’s Series. Her victories have fueled the ongoing debate about transgender athletes in women’s sports, drawing comments from high-profile figures like tennis champion Martina Navratilova, who strongly opposed van Leuven’s participation.
