Dart player Kody Lane inspired by her late father

The sport of darts runs in Kody Lane’s blood and the tragic death of her dad and unfair bullying has only increased her determination to go pro.

Kody Lane’s personal connection drives her in her sport. Picture: Ellen Smith

To honour her late father and to stick it to bullies, Kody Lane keeps throwing darts.

The Glenroy girl first played properly when her mother Natalie’s team was short during a Friday night competition, but darts was in her blood from birth.

“After I met (Kody’s father Mark) he asked me to give him a lift to darts,” Natalie said.

“I see a lot of her dad in her and watching her throw darts makes me think of him.”

Kody trains in Essendon North. Picture: Ellen Smith

While she said she was nervous on that first Friday night, Kody showed plenty of talent and about a year later in December 2017, she won her first grand final.

“I got home and woke my dad up and told him I won and he was so happy for me and told me he loved me,” she said.

It was the last conversation the pair would have as Mark had a fatal heart attack the next morning.

Kody focused on darts after her dad died and relentless training at Doutta Galla Bowls Club in Essendon North resulted in her winning singles and double titles at the junior state titles in May.

She will also represent Victoria at the national junior championships next year.

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Kody said she had been bullied at school about her chosen sport, but it only pushed her towards her dream of playing on the professional tour in Europe.

“I use their negativity about darts to push me to be the best I can,” she said.

“I just go home and throw at the dartboard.”

Kody is a Leader Sports Star nominee.