Dutch darts star Van Leuven has made the decision to take a sabbatical from the sport following a challenging period with her mental health. The 28-year-old, who made history last month by becoming the first transgender player to compete at the PDC World Championship, has been open about her struggles both on and off the oche.
Van Leuven faced a first-round exit at Ally Pally, losing 3-1 to compatriot Kevin Doets. Despite this setback, she had made significant strides in 2024, winning multiple women’s tournaments and becoming one of the most talked-about names in darts. However, her journey in the sport has not been without its controversies, particularly with some critics questioning her participation in women’s competitions.
After a brief return to action at Q-School in 2025, where players compete to qualify for major tournaments, Van Leuven faced another early exit. It was at this point that she took to social media to announce her decision to step away from competitive darts for the time being. In an emotional Instagram post, Van Leuven revealed the toll that mental health struggles had taken on her performance and well-being.
“Q-School 2025 is over, and unfortunately, I didn’t play my best game,” she wrote. “The truth is, my mind hasn’t really been in the right place for a while. I’ve been struggling with my mental health for months, and every time a tournament comes up, I’ve tried to push it aside. But this time, it caught up with me.”
Van Leuven explained that dealing with past traumas, particularly ones triggered last year, had become overwhelming. She admitted that trying to focus on darts while navigating these emotional challenges had become unsustainable.
“Trying to focus on darts while dealing with old traumas that were triggered last year just doesn’t work, and I’ve realised it’s time to shift my focus,” she continued. “It’s time to prioritise my mental health and work on actually getting better. This isn’t the end of my journey, just a step back to move forward.”
Her decision has been met with support from many in the darts community, though Van Leuven’s journey has not been without its detractors. Since her rise to prominence, some female players, including Deta Hedman, have voiced their opposition to the inclusion of transgender players in women’s tournaments. Hedman called for a ban on transgender players, a stance that Van Leuven has fiercely criticized, calling the views “discrimination” and accusing the sport of taking a backward step.
In response to the criticism, Van Leuven has been vocal about her experience, highlighting the toxic environment she faces at times. “I thought the world should know. This is discrimination. We have been thrown back 40 years with the sport of darts,” she said. She also described receiving hate messages, including death threats, via social media, but emphasized her determination to continue playing.
Despite these challenges, Van Leuven has remained resolute in her love for the sport. “I got so many hate messages on my socials. People recognised me on the street. Most were fine and really supportive. But those messages, like death threats… How many did I get? On a daily basis? In that period, yes. I love this game, so I’ll keep playing.”
Van Leuven’s journey is far from over, and while she takes the necessary time to prioritize her mental health, she remains a trailblazer in darts, both on and off the oche. Her courage to speak out about her struggles and the challenges she faces as a transgender athlete continues to inspire others in the sport and beyond.
