A version of this story has a comment section at both the beginning and the end. Anonymous and ugly, it’s the kind of thing that lurks on sports forums at two in the morning. People on the internet decided it was fair game when Fallon Sherrock’s face started to swell noticeably in 2017 due to medication she was taking for a kidney condition. The weight changes, the puffiness, the altered look of a woman who was already managing a serious health condition while raising a young son alone. People continued to type despite it.
The fact that those individuals didn’t seem to comprehend or care about what was truly happening to her is what makes that especially depressing. Since the birth of her son Rory in 2014, Sherrock has struggled with kidney issues. One of the well-known side effects of the medication she required to treat that condition was fluid retention and facial puffiness, which is an involuntary and instantly noticeable physical change. Physicians refer to some of its manifestations as “moon face.” It was simply referred to as something worse on the internet.
Over the years, Sherrock has discussed it in measured, cautious terms. In a 2020 interview with BBC Sport, she explained how the online harassment she endured during that time sharpened something in her rather than breaking her. “If I’m feeling a bit slouchy,” she said, “I’ll look at some of the comments, and I’ll be like: OK, now I need to prove you wrong.” It’s an amazing statement. Most would just back off. She either demonstrated incredible fortitude or demonstrated how much she had already learned to absorb by turning the cruelty into fuel.
Additionally, the physical aspect of her health journey never completely disappeared. She revealed during the summer of 2025 that she had been experiencing energy and stamina issues as a result of an unidentified illness and that she might have to take a break from competitive darts in 2026. That admission must have been expensive for someone who had spent years battling her way into a sport that wasn’t exactly created with her in mind. She also needs to stay hydrated all the time because maintaining the health of her kidneys is a daily discipline rather than something she dealt with once and moved on. As a result, visible water bottles have become a part of her public persona at the oche.
A significant portion of the public discourse surrounding Fallon Sherrock’s weight gain may have consistently missed the mark. Health and well-being were never the main topics of discussion. It was about how some people find it uncomfortable when a woman’s body doesn’t look the way they think it should, especially when she was busy making fun of male dart players on one of the biggest stages. It’s uncomfortable to say, but there’s a feeling that the scrutiny increased because of how much attention she was attracting for the right reasons.
The situation had changed once more by the end of 2025. Before making her sixth appearance at Alexandra Palace in seven years, Sherrock stated that she felt better than she had in months and that she had received “some positive news” regarding her health. The energy behind her words was different, but she sounded deliberate and cautious—she made it clear that she didn’t want to jinx anything. Someone regaining their balance following a protracted period of uncertainty.
She signed a new equipment partnership with Winmau Darts in March 2026, which at least symbolically showed that she was focusing on the future rather than handling a challenging present. It remains to be seen if that translates into the form she displayed between 2019 and 2023, that brilliant, disruptive run that featured a Grand Slam quarterfinal and a historic nine-dart finish. During those performances, she was also dealing with a health issue that the majority of the audience was unaware of.
In the end, that is the aspect of Fallon Sherrock’s weight gain narrative that merits greater attention than it has ever gotten. Not how her face appeared from a particular camera angle, but what she was handling in private while creating some of the most important moments in women’s darts history. The headline went to the trolls. The truth was far more fascinating.
FAQs
Q1. Why did Fallon Sherrock experience weight gain and facial swelling?
Kidney medication caused fluid retention and visible facial puffiness known as “moon face.”
Q2. When did Fallon Sherrock’s kidney problems first begin?
They started around 2014, following the birth of her son Rory.
Q3. How did Sherrock respond to online abuse about her appearance?
She used the cruel comments as motivation to perform better on stage.
Q4. Why does Fallon Sherrock always carry water during matches?
Constant hydration is essential for keeping her kidneys functioning properly.
Q5. Is Fallon Sherrock’s health improving in 2026?
She confirmed receiving positive news and feeling significantly better heading into 2026.
