Luke Littler has been named the third most searched person on Google in the UK, ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles.
Littler, who is preparing for the World Darts Championship which begins This Sunday at 6.30pm live on Sky Sportsjust behind the Princess of Wales, scrutinized as Kate Middleton, and US President-elect Donald Trump.
The 17-year-old caught the eye 12 months ago with his run to the World Championship final, which he lost to Luke Humphries.
4.8m people watched the final in January Sky Sportsthe highest non-football audience ever.
Littler topped the rankings for the UK's most watched 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 is a great honor to be recognized in two Year in Research lists,” said Littler.
“It's been an amazing year for me personally, and for the sport of darts as a whole. I can't believe I'm moving higher than both the Prime Minister and the King in the 'people' category.
“In a year of such great sporting achievements, it is a proud moment for me to be the top mobile athlete of 2024.”
Little became the youngest man to make a televised nine-darter at the Bahrain Darts Masters earlier this year, where he also won his first PDC title.
He competed in the 17-week Premier League series, winning the play-off night in London with nine other darters in the final in May.
After winning the Polish Masters of Darts, Littler had a dip in form with first-round exits at the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, but won the Grand Slam of Darts and World Series of Darts Finals in November.
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PDC ambassador Russ Bray makes his prediction for the World Darts Championship
Boxer Khelif is the most studied athlete in the world
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was the most searched athlete in the world on Google this year after controversy over his eligibility at the Olympics.
Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan were alleged to have failed gender tests in 2023, although no evidence was or has been provided to support that allegation.
Some headlines incorrectly suggested that the boxers were transgender athletes – even though both were born female and are classified as female in their passports. However, the argument was controversial and brought into focus the debate about women's eligibility and classification.
Khelif won gold in the women's welterweight championship in Paris amid huge controversy after the International Boxing Association (IBA) said the Algerian had been disqualified from last year's World Championships for failing gender eligibility criteria.
The 25-year-old has lodged a legal complaint with French authorities over abuse and online harassment she suffered at the Games, and the IOC said in early November that she was now also take action on new reports that appeared in France. , reportedly detailing her medical records.
He also said he was “saddened” by the abuse Khelif has received since her appearance in Paris.
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