Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton, the familiar face fronting the network's World Darts Championship coverage, has revealed how a promising career as an Olympic hopeful was cut short by persistent injury.
An Athletic Dream Cut Short
Before commanding the stage at Alexandra Palace, Paton was a dedicated athlete competing at national level in the 400m. Her talent even earned her a cameo role in the 2012 film Fast Girls, where she played a Ukrainian relay runner, featuring in the trailer alongside stars like Lily James.
Her ultimate goal was to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games, but a series of injuries forced her to abandon that path. "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."
Pivoting to a Media Career
With her athletic ambitions halted, Paton turned her focus to a burgeoning media career. She began working full-time on the Sky Sports News breakfast show, managing early starts while initially trying to fit training around her new job.
"With injuries, I turned my attention to trying to make it on screen at Sky and have ended up hosting darts," she explained. "It could be a lot worse!" Her transition proved successful, and she is now a key presenter for Sky's major darts events.
From the Track to the Oche: Finding Common Ground
Paton finds that her athletic background helps her understand the pressure the players face. She notes that while darts and athletics are vastly different, they share a crucial similarity.
"Different in many ways but similar in the fact that it's an individual sport," Paton said. "You're just out there on your own... I've put myself on a start line, in that situation, although obviously not to the extent these players are playing at."
After three weeks of tournament drama, Paton will be on duty to present the World Darts Championship final on Thursday, 8th January 2026. The match sees 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.
