Competitors Ready for Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Joey Chestnut once again proved why he is the reigning champion of the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, as he devoured 62 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. This marks Chestnut’s 16th win in the men’s competition, earning him the nickname “Jaws.” However, this year he fell short of his own record of 76 hot dogs and buns, which he set in 2021.
The competition faced a delay of nearly two hours due to thunderstorms hitting New York’s Coney Island. Unfortunately, during the delay, a person was injured due to an electrocution incident and was taken to the hospital. This weather delay had an impact on the competitors, with Chestnut describing the wait as “a roller coaster, emotionally,” and noting that “everybody got messed up” by the delay.
Despite not breaking his previous record, Chestnut still felt great about his performance and even revealed his plans to enjoy some beers later in the day. In total, Chestnut consumed an estimated 18,600 calories during the competition. For his July Fourth dinner, he joked that it would be a liquid diet.
In second place in the men’s competition was Geoffrey Esper, who gobbled down 49 hot dogs and buns, followed by James Webb in third place with 47. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Miki Sudo emerged victorious by consuming 39.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Sudo fell short of breaking her own record of 48.5 hot dogs and buns from 2020. Mayoi Ebihara finished in second place with 33.5 hot dogs and buns, and Michelle Lesco came in third with 24.25.
After Sudo’s win, she clarified that her final tally wasn’t a whole number due to a disputed bun. However, officials ultimately decided that it belonged to Sudo. Sudo expressed her dedication to not leaving any leftover hot dogs on the table and praised Ebihara’s eating style during the competition.
As the judges tallied the official results, they showed camaraderie by chatting, shaking hands, and hugging before declaring Sudo the winner among the 15 female participants. In the previous year, Sudo ate 40 hot dogs and buns to secure her victory.
The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest remains a highlight of Independence Day celebrations, showcasing incredible eating feats and competitive spirit. Chestnut and Sudo have once again established themselves as the dominant forces of this annual event, leaving fans eager to see what they can accomplish in the coming years.