Luke Littler has been named the UK’s third most searched on Google, ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles.
Littler, who is preparing for the inaugural World Darts Championship live this Sunday at 18.30 Sky Sportswas only behind the Princess of Wales, wanted as Kate Middleton and chose Donald Trump as President of the United States.
The 17-year-old drew attention to his run to the World Cup final 12 months ago, when he lost to Luke Humphreys.
The January finale was watched by 4.8 million people Sky Sportsthe highest non-football audience ever.
Littler topped the list of Britain’s most wanted athletes this year, ahead of Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain win Euro 2024, and gymnast Simone Biles, who won three gold medals at Paris 2024.
“It’s an honor to be recognized on the search lists for two years,” Littler said.
“It’s been an amazing year for me personally and for the sport of darts in general. I can’t believe I’m trending higher than the PM and King in the ‘people’ category.”
“In a year of such great sporting achievements, it is a proud moment for me to be named the 2024 Trending Athlete.”
Little became the youngest person to take the televised nine-ball at the Darts Masters in Bahrain earlier this year, where he also won his first senior PDC title.
He took part in a 17-week Premier League streak, winning the play-off night in the final in London in May with another nine goals.
After winning the Polish Masters of Darts, Littler had a slump in form, exiting in the first round at the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, but he won the Grand Slam of Darts and World Series of Darts finals in November.
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PDC Ambassador Russ Bray gives his prediction for the World Darts Championship
Boxer Khelief is the most wanted athlete in the world
Algerian boxer Imane Khelief was the most searched female athlete in the world on Google this year after a dispute over her eligibility to compete in the Olympics.
Khelief and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting are believed to have undergone gender tests in 2023, although no evidence has been presented or presented to support the claim.
Some erroneous headlines suggested that the boxers were transgender athletes, even though both were born female and were classified as female on their passports.
Khelief won gold in the women’s welterweight competition in Paris after the International Boxing Association (IBA) announced the Algerian had been disqualified from last year’s world championships for failing to meet gender compliance standards.
The 25-year-old filed a legal complaint with French authorities over the online abuse and harassment she suffered during the Games, and the IOC said in early November that she was also taking action on new reports in France, allegedly detailing her leaked medical records.
It also said it was “saddened” by the abuse Khelief had received since appearing in Paris.
