Francis Tolu is a freestyle pizza champion. For those who don’t know what that is, he uses pizza dough to compete in acrobatic performances. He can make pizza blindfolded; he also throws pizzas in the air and sets them on fire. Among his achievements are the 2026 masters acrobatics title at the World Pizza Games, and four wins at the Pizza world championship.

Then he returns to work, serving customers at Pizzeria Venezia in Alginet, Spain, the restaurant his family has owned for 40 years.

What’s a typical day like in the life of a pizza athlete?

What time did you wake up?

I wake up every day between 7.30 and 8 in the morning, since I sleep little.

Do you eat breakfast?

I never have breakfast. I am not hungry when I get up, and I like to fast.

What do you do before work?

I like to exercise at the gym or go for a run, because it helps me clear my mind and I start the day energized.

What do you eat during the day?

I usually have three meals: the heaviest one at noon to recharge my strength, then two lighter ones, like fruit or something. Today, I happened to prepare for lunch a plate of spaghetti that was incredible. I made a broth with the shells of some shrimp, and a sauce with cherry tomatoes, basil, shrimp and garlic, and it turned out to be really good. I love cooking. It relaxes me a lot, and I eat pasta almost every day.

What did work look like for you today?

Today has been intense. I prepare the dough for the restaurant the next day, since we use long-fermentation doughs. I also order and receive the pizzeria supplies. I create and edit videos with recipes for pizzas with random ingredients, and upload things from my shows or competitions.

My hobby – freestyle pizza – is my passion. It is linked to my work, but has given me the nicest joys of my life. There are some basic moves, but then you develop your own style and have your identity mark, and are able to surprise the judges or the audience in your shows. My main hallmark is playing on the table.

I’ve been developing my skills for 25 years, when I took a course with Italian acrobats. I started competing in 1999. I have achieved things that no pizzero in the world has achieved, and I am very proud of it.

What do you do in the evening?

Working in a restaurant is quite sacrificial, and you have little time to socialize – the little free time you have left, you spend resting and enjoying your family. For me, socializing is with my customers, many of whom have been around all my life and are already friends.

Do you have a sleep routine?

I don’t know if it’s that I’ve gotten older, but I sleep less and less. No matter how tired I am, I usually don’t sleep more than six hours, and I tend to wake up without an alarm clock. It’s as if I have a clock inside me. You get home late, and your body is overactive from work. It takes a bit to sleep. I never sleep before 1am, and I get my six hours, and I’m up.