NOA-LYNN van Leuven has made a historic mark in sports by being the first trans woman to compete in a televised darts tournament.

She is poised to break further ground — on December 17, 2024, Van Leuven will become the first transgender player to enter the PDC World Darts Championship.

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Noa-Lynn van Leuven secured her spot at Alexandra Palace through an impressive display of skill in the Women’s Series.

She defeated women’s world No. 1 Beau Greeves 5-3 in the finale of Women’s Series 21, setting a remarkable average of 109.64 in the process.

Van Leuven shared: “This marks a huge achievement for me and for my community. Ultimately, I want to be acknowledged as Noa.

“I just want to play darts without the constant need to discuss my identity as a transgender woman.

“I’m a darts player, and I excel at it.

“It’s a tremendous honor, and I’m the first Dutch woman to take the stage at Alexandra Palace.”

Who is Noa-Lynn van Leuven?

Noa-Lynn van Leuven was born on September 27, 1996, and is a Dutch darts player participating in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.

In 2023, she entered the spotlight as the first trans woman to compete in a televised darts tournament.

Van Leuven began her transition in 2022 while simultaneously joining the Women’s Series.

She revealed that before her transition, she considered quitting darts due to deep feelings of depression.

Michael van Gerwen reacts after transgender Grand Slam rival Noa-Lynn van Leuven faced boos, remarking ‘What can you do?’

“I struggled to connect with others in the darts community. I was very unhappy, which reflected in my performance,” van Leuven recounted in an interview with Sky Sports.

“When your mental health is suffering, it impacts every area of your life. I took a break from darts but eventually felt the urge to return.

“I tried to fully embrace life while engaging in extensive sessions with a psychologist.”

When not making headlines in the darts world, Van Leuven works as a chef de partie at a local restaurant in Heemskerk, a small town near Amsterdam.

I believe it’s tough for transgender athletes to compete in sports, especially when their identity is publicly known, due to the assumptions of having an unfair advantage until they prove otherwise.

Noa-Lynn van Leuven

Additionally, she has acted as a mediator, assisting transgender individuals in need of support.

What competitions has Noa-Lynn van Leuven won?

Van Leuven first entered the 2022 PDC Women’s Series.

She reached the quarter-finals in both events 13 and 14 of the Women’s Series but was eliminated by Beau Greaves 4–2 and Laura Turner 4–3, respectively.

Competing in the 2023 Dutch Open, Van Leuven entered as the 15th seed and advanced to the semi-finals, where she faced elimination by Aileen de Graaf.

However, she achieved victory at the Denmark Open in 2023, overcoming Irina Armstrong.

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Her impressive achievements continued in March 2024, when van Leuven won the PDC Women’s Series, shortly after competing successfully against male participants in a mixed event.

Van Leuven had to undergo rigorous transitioning evaluations to qualify for competition in women’s darts.

The Darts Regulation Authority, which governs the PDC, states that “Darts is open to all, and we welcome participation from trans and non-binary players.”

This inclusive standpoint has allowed Van Leuven to actively participate in the sport she is passionate about.

She also expresses solidarity with other sports that prevent trans athletes from participating in their desired categories.

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She conveyed to Sky Sports: “I feel devastated for those affected by such negativity.

“Participating in sports can be especially challenging for transgender individuals, particularly when they are publicly identified as such because of the immense pressure to prove their abilities aren’t unfair.

Van Leuven has been open about receiving death threats following the resignation 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 remarked: “We all remember my Dutch teammates’ decision to withdraw.

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“I received many hostile messages online.

“Some people even recognized me in public. Most were supportive, though.

“However, the hate messages, including death threats, were overwhelming. It became a regular occurrence during that time.

“But my passion for this game drives me, and I won’t stop playing.”

Is Noa-Lynn van Leuven on social media?

Van Leuven actively updates her followers on her social media platforms.

You can follow her on Instagram under the popular handle @noalynn180.

On Twitter/X, Van Leuven shares regular updates on her handle @dartsnoa.