Darting For Success: Normie Eckard Sets His Sights On World Darts Championships

From the bottom to the podium, Normie Eckard has gone from being a hopeful rugby player, who almost turned pro, to wearing the national colours of the country in darts.

At 18, a young, passionate, aspiring rugby player woke up one day to find his Springboks dream shattered. A fatal motorcar accident left him paraplegic, ending his aspirations in what was and still remains South Africas most successful sport.

The door that closed on his childhood dream, however, opened a new path to endless opportunities. Needless to say, he needed immense inspiration to pick himself up and try again.

Now 46, Eckard has done everything but let lifes circumstances hold him back. He represented North West in wheelchair rugby at the 2017 SA Wheelchair Rugby Championship, winning a silver medal. He also competed in fishing for Gauteng North, representing them in five SA Championships between 2018 and 2024, winning bronze in 2019.

His biggest achievement, however, has been breaking through the system, representing his country on the international stage, and gaining recognition from the World Darts Federation.