The World Toe Wrestling Championship celebrated its 50th year this weekend – and athletes want it in the next Olympics.
Returning to Derbyshire, the strange sporting event boasted participants from all over the world that came together to lock digits and prove they had the strongest toes.
It’s hard to imagine what a toe wrestling championship might entail, but it’s very serious business. All contestants are inspected to make sure they have no infections, verruca’s, or warts.
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They even have a specially built “toedium”, aka podium, where the battle commences.
Hailing from Canada, America, Pakistan, India, and China, competitors train hard. From surgically removing toenails, to soaking feet in oat milk – these athletes will stop at nothing to take home the coveted bronze toe-phy.
(Image: Oddlygood)
Toe wrestling was founded in Wetton, Derbyshire in 1974, by a few friends in a local pub. Since then, the bizarre sport has evolved its cult following, and may even be a part of the 2028 Olympics in LA.
A big documentary about the sport is rumoured to be dropping soon, and will feature some of the biggest names in toe wrestling.
This year’s winners of the World Toe Wrestling Championship were Derbyshire’s own Ben Woodroffe, and Lisa Shenton. Having competed for more than 20 years, Ben considers himself an expert of toe wrestling.
(Image: Oddlygood)
The tournament’s male champion said: “My toes felt seriously strong after a strict regime of fortifying oat drink foot baths and toe deadlifts. Being a toe wrestler is a serious business.
“We train like Olympians. It can be painful too. Toes can break and it’s common to suffer blisters and sore knees but the glory is worth it. After 50 years, we’re hoping that by LA 2028, we’ll be at the Olympics.”
Dedicated to the cause, Ben doesn’t just train like an athlete. He’s resorted to surgical advantages and revealed: “My secret weapon is that I’ve had my big toenails surgically removed, to aid my dexterity and toe stamina.”
(Image: Oddlygood)
This year, the toe-tally weird event was a part of sponsor Oddlygood’s ‘Summer Games’ campaign – celebrating the world’s wackiest events.
Oddlygood spokesperson Nina Gillsvik said: “When we heard that Ben AKA ‘Toe-tal Destruction’ used oat drink foot baths as part of his training regime, we knew we had to support the World Toe wrestling Championship’s dream to be an Olympic sport by 2028.
“The road is long but we stand toe to toe with the sport’s governing body and dedicated athletes like Ben and Alan.’’
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