A German YouTuber has won the 2026 edition of the iconic Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake event, held annually in the English county of Gloucestershire.
Despite scorching temperatures, thousands of spectators gathered once again on Monday at Cooper's Hill. The tradition is believed to stretch back centuries and continues to be held every year at the same location.
Each year, adults and children enthusiastically throw themselves down the steep hill in an attempt to be the first to reach the wheel of cheese rolling in front of them. The Double Gloucester cheese, which weighs around three kilogrammes, can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h as it descends. Winners in all seven races are awarded cheese wheels of their own to take home.
German YouTuber Tom Kopke, known online as "Tooleko", travelled specifically from Munich to Gloucestershire to take part. But even before the race officially kicked off on Tuesday, one champion had already been crowned: Chris Anderson earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records after winning the title 23 times between 2002 and 2022. This year, Anderson came second behind Kopke.
Nevertheless, Anderson arguably had even more reason to celebrate this year: his 11-year-old son, William, won one of the races. Meanwhile, French national Alix Heugas secured victory in the main women's category.
