Vincent van der Voort has voiced concern over fellow darts star Gerwyn Price’s dramatic weight loss, suggesting the Welshman may have taken his transformation too far.
Price, 40, recently revealed that he has shed more than three stone over the past six months in an effort to improve his stamina and focus on stage.
The world No 13 has nonetheless enjoyed a strong season, winning the Baltic Sea Open, three Players Championship titles and the Poland Darts Masters.
But his leaner appearance has sparked debate among players and fans alike.
Speaking on the Darts Draait Door podcast, Van der Voort and fellow professional Damian Vlottes discussed Price’s noticeable change, with both expressing surprise at the scale of his transformation.
“I thought it was a kid in his shirt,” Vlottes said.
“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 was quick to clarify that his remarks came from concern rather than criticism.
Vincent van der Voort has voiced concern over fellow darts star Gerwyn Price’s dramatic weight loss, suggesting the Welshman may have taken his transformation too far
|GETTY
“He used to have a lot of muscle — he was massive,” the Dutchman 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.”
The 48-year-old, known for his blunt but good-natured assessments, added that his comments were intended as friendly advice rather than mockery.
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| PA“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,” he said.
“I’d tell him to eat a bit more. He owns a fish and chip shop, so that shouldn’t be a problem!”
Price, nicknamed The Iceman, opened up about his new lifestyle earlier this month, explaining that the weight loss happened gradually as he adjusted to the intense demands of the darts calendar.
“I’ve been playing right through losing weight,” he said.
“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 added that the change has made a noticeable difference to his confidence and energy levels.
Gerwyn Price believes the gruelling darts schedule has helped him lose weight
| GETTY“Just mentally, I feel a lot better in myself,” Price said.
“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.”
However, the Welshman admitted that maintaining a healthy routine on the professional circuit can be difficult.
“I don’t think it’s so much the travelling,” he explained.
“Just the times and the food you have to get sometimes, especially when you’re in Europe. You come off stage sometimes at 10pm or 11pm 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.”