Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the renowned competitive eater, overcame a rain delay to secure yet another triumph at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. In an impressive display of gastronomic prowess, Chestnut devoured 62 hot dogs and buns within a mere 10 minutes, leaving his closest competitor, Geoffrey Esper, trailing far behind. Esper, hailing from Oxford, Massachusetts, managed to consume 49 hot dogs and buns. Chestnut’s exceptional performance not only secured his eighth consecutive Mustard Belt but also marked his 16th overall victory.
Miki Sudo Claims Ninth Mustard Belt in the Women’s Contest
In the women’s division, defending champion Miki Sudo reigned supreme once again, ingesting an impressive 39½ hot dogs and buns to claim her ninth Mustard Belt. However, before the men’s competition could commence, inclement weather engulfed New York City’s Coney Island, leading to a two-hour delay. Chestnut reflected on the emotional roller coaster ride brought about by the rain, uncertain whether the iconic contest would proceed at all. Hailing from Westfield, Indiana, the 39-year-old Chestnut had initially competed for the Nathan’s title in 2005 and has since maintained an unbroken streak of victories since 2015.
Last year, Chestnut devoured 63 hot dogs and buns to seize the championship title. However, his moment of triumph was momentarily disrupted when a protester dressed as Darth Vader stormed the stage. Chestnut swiftly subdued the intruder with a headlock before security intervened. Although his best finish was in 2021 with a remarkable tally of 76 hot dogs, Tuesday’s weather disruption rendered a repeat performance unattainable. Reflecting on the situation, Chestnut acknowledged the adverse impact it had on all competitors, stating, “Everybody got messed up.”
In the women’s event, Sudo faced stiff competition from the 27-year-old Mayoi Ebihara. Throughout the contest, the two leaders appeared to be neck and neck, as indicated by the unofficial real-time counter. However, the final count of plates ultimately determined the victor. Sudo, aged 37 and hailing from Port Richey, Florida, expressed disappointment with her winning total, falling nine hot dogs short of her personal record. She attributed her momentary lapse to being distracted by her competitor, Ebihara, acknowledging that she fumbled her hands and experienced an untimely burp.
The annual Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on Coney Island attracted participants from various parts of the world, including England, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Australia, showcasing the international appeal of this iconic event.
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