Her most memorable win came in 2019, when she first took the world title. “My mum was so proud,” Lisa says. “She couldn’t wait to show everyone the article in the local paper and say, ‘My daughter’s a world champion!’” Since that first win, her family has shown up at almost every match. But in 2022, just a week before the World Championships, Lisa’s mum passed away. Though she’d encouraged Lisa to compete, it didn’t feel right, so she skipped that year’s competition. “But now, I’ve got even more passion,” she says. “Mum loved it, so that gives me an extra edge – I want it even more.”
It’s clear how much heart this sport holds for the people who compete.
Beyond winning world titles, Ben is working on something bigger for toe wrestling: legacy. His dream is to take it to the Olympics. The campaign began half as a joke in 1996, when his predecessors sent off an application and received a tongue-in-cheek letter back from the IOC, who apparently couldn’t decide if it was a summer or winter sport. This time, Ben’s serious. Last year, he and Alan flew to Paris to stage promotional matches during the Olympic Games. “If breakdancing can be an Olympic sport,” Ben shrugs, “why not toe wrestling?”
It might seem unlikely, but toe wrestling is gaining serious momentum. Each August, more competitors from around the world descend on Ashbourne for the World Championships, drawn by the chance to prove themselves on a gigantic eight foot Toedium and a prize pot that’s now hit £10,000, thanks to new sponsors.
The sport’s growth isn’t just happening at ground level. Over the past couple of years, toe wrestling has gone viral, with every clip the organisers post racking up millions of views. Even this grungy pub sport hasn’t escaped the pull of the algorithm – there’s a full social media team behind it now, producing slick reels, cinematic edits, and behind-the-scenes content. Tonight, half the crowd are gripping pints in one hand and filming with the other. Soon, fans will even be able to buy their own official Toedium: a miniature match board sold via links posted under the social clips.
