Noa-Lynn van Leuven makes history at PDC World Championship 2024
- Noa-Lynn van Leuven qualified for the PDC World Championship by winning the PDC Women's Series event in Leicester.
- She made the decision to compete in the World Championship instead of the Lakeside Women's World Championship.
- Her achievements highlight the growing representation and success of transgender athletes in darts.
In a groundbreaking moment for the sport, Dutch darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven has become the first transgender competitor to qualify for the PDC World Championship, set to take place at Alexandra Palace. Van Leuven secured her spot on October 19, 2024, after winning the PDC Women's Series event in Leicester, overcoming formidable opponents such as Beau Greaves, Lisa Ashton, and Lorraine Hyde. This comes just two years after she began competing in the PDC Women's Series, following her transition in 2021, demonstrating her swift rise in darts. Her decision to enter the PDC World Championship has led her to pass on the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Lakeside Women's World Championship. The event at Alexandra Palace has a limited history of female competitors, with Fallon Sherrock also joining Van Leuven after similarly rejecting a Lakeside invitation. This highlights the growing representation of women in darts, particularly transgender athletes. Van Leuven's achievements in recent tournaments include reaching the semi-finals at the Dutch Open and ranking as a runner-up in the Women's Series order of merit, granting her a place in the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts scheduled for 2024. After her transition, she found renewed happiness and a sense of belonging in the sport, allowing her to reconnect with her passion for darts. Noa-Lynn van Leuven's story exemplifies the transformative power of sports and representation, inspiring many in the LGBT community, as she expresses joy in returning to a sport she loves and thriving within its community.