Francis Tolu is a world champion freestyle pizza athlete who uses pizza dough for acrobatic performances. He can make pizza blindfolded, throws pizzas in the air, and sets them on fire. His achievements include the 2026 masters acrobatics title at the World Pizza Games and four wins at the Pizza world championship.
After competitions, he returns to work at Pizzeria Venezia in Alginet, Spain, a family-run restaurant for 40 years. Tolu describes a typical day in his life.
Morning Routine and Diet
Tolu wakes between 7:30 and 8 am, sleeping little. He never eats breakfast, as he is not hungry and prefers to fast. Before work, he exercises at the gym or goes for a run to clear his mind and start the day energized.
He usually has three meals: a heavy lunch to recharge, then two lighter meals like fruit. For lunch, he prepared spaghetti with a broth made from shrimp shells, cherry tomatoes, basil, shrimp, and garlic. He loves cooking and eats pasta almost every day.
Work and Freestyle Pizza Passion
His work involves preparing dough for the next day using long-fermentation methods, ordering supplies, and creating recipe videos for pizzas with random ingredients. He also uploads content from 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,” Tolu said. He has developed his own style over 25 years, starting with a course with Italian acrobats in 1999. His hallmark is playing on the table, and he has achieved things no other pizzero has.
Evenings and Sleep
Working in a restaurant leaves little time for socializing; Tolu spends free time resting and with family. He socializes with customers, many of whom are longtime friends. He sleeps no more than six hours, usually waking without an alarm. He never sleeps before 1 am and gets up after six hours.
