‘I thought I was going to have a heart attack,’ says Luke Humphries as darts world champ opens up on weight loss battle
LUKE HUMPHRIES thought he was going to have a heart attack on stage and admitted feeling anxious about his weight.
The darts world champion has undergone a remarkable weight loss journey since deciding to shed the pounds during lockdown.
He has lost an incredible four stone, and since won everything there is to win in darts, including the World Darts Championship and World Matchplay this year.
Humphries believes his trim figure now allows him to focus better, which has led to an improvement at the oche.
His career was in a very different place five years ago however, when he thought he was going to have a heart attack in a game against James Wade at the German Darts Open.
Humphries told Sky Sports’ Game of Throws documentary: “I think it was the European Tour that was the first instance where I first really started to notice something was wrong.
“The game against James Wade, I managed to get up there and get into a 5-2 lead, but I couldn’t quite focus on what was going on.
“I’d never felt my heartbeat and then I felt like it was going a bit fast. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It really scared me.
“I couldn’t wait to get off the stage. I was ready to quit the state I was in.”
Humphries, 29, decided to make the change in a bid to improve his stamina and performances.
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He also admitted feeling conscious about being overweight, and since getting into shape he has felt much more confident.
Cool Hand continued: “Subconsciously I was anxious about being overweight, worried about people looking at me, stuff like that.
“The fatigue, the tiredness, all the negative thoughts.
“It felt like being overweight was the thing that was really stopping me, because I had all this talent, all this ambition, but I couldn’t channel it in the right ways. I really had to work hard to get healthier.
“Since I lost the weight I’ve had a much clearer mind. That healthier body really gave me a lot more belief. I felt much more confident in myself, Just focused.”
Humphries will launch the defence of his world crown next month, with an opening match against Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito.
GAME OF THROWS: INSIDE DARTS from 30 November and the PDC World Championship from 15 December on Sky and NOW