Sky Sports darts presenter Emma Paton has revealed how a crushing injury forced her to abandon a promising career in athletics, before finding her calling as a familiar face on television.
Olympic Ambitions Cut Short
The popular broadcaster, who has been fronting Sky's coverage of the World Darts Championship, was once a national-level 400m runner with her sights set on the Olympic Games. Her talent even earned her a cameo role in the 2012 film Fast Girls, where she played a Ukrainian relay runner.
"I wanted to go to the Olympics to represent Great Britain. That was the aim," Paton told Mirror Sport. However, years of persistent injuries intervened, shattering that dream. "I fell short of my dreams but that’s OK," she reflected.
A New Path in Broadcasting
With her athletic career halted, Paton turned her focus to media. She began working on the breakfast show at Sky Sports News, managing early starts while initially trying to fit training around her job. Eventually, she dedicated herself fully to forging a career on screen.
"I turned my attention to trying to make it on screen at Sky and have ended up hosting darts," she said. "It could be a lot worse!"
Paton draws parallels between her past and present, noting that both darts and athletics are intensely individual pursuits. "You’re just out there on your own, which wasn’t always nice, hence why I don’t do it anymore! But I've put myself on a start line, in that situation," she explained.
Fronting the World Championship Final
After three weeks of action at Alexandra Palace, Paton was on duty for the World Championship final on January 3, 2026. The match saw defending champion Luke Littler face the new Dutch number one, Gian van Veen.
Littler secured his place with a 6-1 victory over Ryan Searle, while Van Veen thrillingly defeated Gary Anderson in the other semi-final. The final was broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Darts, with coverage starting at 7.30pm and the players on stage from 8.15pm.
Despite the dramatic shift from track to oche, Paton's life remains firmly rooted in sport. "That’s where it all started for me," she said, embracing her role at the heart of one of television's most-watched sporting events.
