Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton has revealed how a promising athletics career, which once targeted the Olympic Games, was derailed by injury, paving the way for her to become a familiar face on television.
Olympic Ambitions Dashed by Injury
Before fronting Sky Sports' coverage of the World Darts Championship, Emma Paton was a national-level 400m runner with serious ambitions. Her goal was clear: to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games. However, persistent injuries forced her to abandon that dream. "I fell short of my dreams but that’s OK," Paton told Mirror Sport. "I wanted to go to the Olympics... but I had years of injuries and it didn’t really happen."
Her athletic prowess even earned her a cameo role in the 2012 film Fast Girls, where she played a Ukrainian relay runner, appearing in the trailer alongside actors Lily James and Noel Clarke.
Pivoting to a Media Career
With her track career halted, Paton turned her focus to broadcasting. She began working on the breakfast show at Sky Sports News, managing early starts while initially trying to fit training around her new job. Eventually, she dedicated herself fully to her on-screen career. "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 in athletics and her current role covering darts, noting both are intensely individual sports. "You’re just out there on your own, which wasn’t always nice, hence why I don’t do it anymore!" she reflected. "But I've put myself on a start line, in that situation... That’s where it all started for me, my life was always rooted in sport."
Fronting the World Darts Final
Paton's media career will see her take a central role in one of sport's biggest annual events. After three weeks of action, she will present Sky Sports' coverage of the World Darts Championship final.
The final will see defending champion Luke Littler, who secured his place with a 6-1 semi-final win over Ryan Searle, face new Dutch number one Gian van Veen, who thrillingly defeated Gary Anderson.
Coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Events and Sky Sports Darts at 7.30pm, with the players taking to the stage at 8.15pm.
