"I've been struggling with my mental health for months": Noa-Lynn van Leuven to take a 'step back' after Q-School disappointment
PDC
It has been a up and down 12 months for Noa-Lynn van Leuven who saw her dream of joining the PDC Tour not go to plan at European Q-School not making it out of the First Stage.
She now plans to take a step back from the sport admitting that her mental health has taken a toll and she has not been in the right place for a while.
Van Leuven as the first transwoman to appear at the PDC World Darts Championship and also win a multitude of titles on the Women's Series and also Challenge Tour has blazed a trail but also endured abuse and even players boycotting WDF tournaments over her inclusion.
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She made her Ally Pally debut a few weeks ago but wasn't at her best during Q-School bowing out with a few points and not making it to the Final Stage unlike her Women's Series counterparts in Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves for instance.
"Q-School 2025 is over, and unfortunately, I didn’t play my best game. 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," she wrote on Instagram as she explains why she is stepping away from the sport.
"But this time, it caught up with me. Trying to focus on darts while dealing with old traumas that were triggered last year just doesn’t work, and I’ve realized it’s time to shift my focus. It’s time to prioritize my mental health and work on actually getting better.
"This isn’t the end of my journey, just a step back to move forward. Thanks to everyone who’s supported me along the way – I appreciate it more than I can put into words."
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