Anca Zijlstra

Anca Zijlstra is a prominent Dutch darts player known for her achievements in World Darts Federation (WDF) events. After securing her first major international victory at the Hungarian Open in 2012, Anca Zijlstra, widely recognized by her nickname ‘The Phoenix,’ swiftly established herself as a significant figure and prominent Dutch darts player within the World Darts Federation (WDF). Her professional journey commenced within the British Darts Organisation (BDO) in 2011, with her concurrently competing in WDF events from that year forward. Zijlstra quickly demonstrated her exceptional competitive prowess, notably reaching the Quarter Finals of the prestigious BDO World Darts Championship in 2016.

The same year, 2022, Zijlstra proudly represented the Netherlands on the global stage at the WDF Europe Cup, where her contributions earned the team a silver medal in the Men’s event. Demonstrating her versatile talent across different competitive formats, she also secured two bronze medals at the same championship, one in the Men’s pairs category and another in the Men’s overall standings, underscoring her comprehensive skill set. In March 2024, Zijlstra garnered international media attention when she publicly announced her departure from the Dutch national women’s team. This impactful decision stemmed from her principled refusal to compete alongside transgender teammate Noa-Lynn van Leuven, with Zijlstra articulating her stance as a firm belief in maintaining a level playing field exclusively for biological women in sports.

This high-profile event transcended the darts community, significantly amplifying broader societal discussions surrounding gender identity, fairness, and inclusion in professional athletic participation, further solidifying Zijlstra’s public profile as a vocal advocate for her convictions.