Francis Tolu is a freestyle pizza champion who competes in acrobatic performances using pizza dough. He can make pizza blindfolded, throw pizzas in the air, and set 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 competing, he returns to work at Pizzeria Venezia in Alginet, Spain, a family-owned restaurant for 40 years.
Morning Routine
Tolu wakes up between 7:30 and 8 a.m. daily, 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.
Daily Meals
He typically has three meals: the heaviest at noon to recharge, followed by two lighter ones like fruit. For lunch, he prepared a plate of spaghetti with a broth made from shrimp shells, cherry tomatoes, basil, shrimp, and garlic. He loves cooking, finds it relaxing, and eats pasta almost every day.
Work and Passion
His work includes preparing dough for the next day using long-fermentation methods, ordering and receiving pizzeria supplies, and creating and editing videos of pizza recipes and shows. His hobby, freestyle pizza, is his passion. He says, “It is linked to my work, but has given me the nicest joys of my life.” He has developed his own style over 25 years, starting with a course from Italian acrobats in 1999, and has achieved things no other pizzero has.
Evening and Sleep
Working in a restaurant leaves little time for socializing, so he spends free time resting with family. Socializing often happens with customers, many of whom are long-time friends. He sleeps less than six hours, usually not before 1 a.m., and wakes without an alarm. He notes, “It’s as if I have a clock inside me.”
