Darts star Vincent van der Voort has raised concerns over rival Gerwyn Price’s recent weight transformation.
Price recently revealed that he had lost three stone over the past few months in a bid to improve his performance at the oche.
The world No. 13 has enjoyed a remarkable season so far, having won the Baltic Sea Open, a trio of Players Championship events, as well as the Poland Darts Masters.
Speaking on the Darts Draait Door podcast, Van der Voort and professional darts player Damian Vlottes shared their thoughts.
Vlottes commented: ‘I thought it was a kid in his shirt. There’s nothing left of him. You can’t really comment when someone’s overweight, so let’s be respectful when someone’s underweight too – but he’s lost a huge amount.’
Van der Voort made it clear that he did not intend to mock the Welshman.
Price recently revealed he had lost three stone in a bid to improve his performance at the oche
The Welsh world No. 13 has enjoyed a remarkable season so far, having won the Baltic Sea Open, a trio of Players Championship events, as well as the Poland Darts Masters
‘He used to have a lot of muscle – he was massive,’ he said. ‘Now he looks like a kid! Pretty soon he’ll be getting beaten up by Bradley Brooks. He used to be so broad, always in the gym. But he’s gone too far now. He really should put some weight back on – this isn’t good.’
He added: ‘It’s not that I’m worried about him – for all I care, he can lose even more – but it’s meant as friendly advice. I’d tell him to eat a bit more. He owns a fish and chip shop, so that shouldn’t be a problem!’
Price recently opened up about his weight loss journey, saying: ‘I’ve been playing right through losing weight. It’s gradually happened over the last six months or so.
‘You know how much darts is on these days, no chance for rest. While I’ve been playing, I’ve been losing weight slowly and it’s been working.’
He continued: ‘Just mentally, I feel a lot better in myself. When I’m putting on a medium shirt instead of an XL, it feels a little bit better. As long as I’m confident in myself and feeling better when I go up on stage, it can only help.’
The Ice Man admitted that darts’ late-night schedules have made maintaining a healthy lifestyle difficult at times.
‘I don’t think it’s so much the travelling. Just the times and the food you have to get sometimes, especially when you are in Europe,’ he said.
Vincent van der Voort (pictured) expressed concern over Gerwyn Price’s body transformation
Price admitted that darts’ late-night schedules have made a healthy lifestyle difficult at times
‘You come off stage sometimes at 10pm or 11pm at night and you’re absolutely starving, and the only thing you can turn to is fast food.
‘Scrap that – I’ll have something decent in the morning. Going to bed starving is hard work. But it works.’
He concluded: ‘I knew I would lose it gradually. I wouldn’t lose it overnight. I haven’t lost a lot of fat on my arms.
‘As long as you are practising and you get that muscle memory and repetition. It can affect different people in different ways. It’s been OK for me.’
