Famed competitive eater Joey "Jaws" Chestnut reclaimed his title at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest this past Friday, having missed the event last year due to a contract disagreement. The contest, held at its traditional location outside the original Nathan's Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, has been a staple since 1972, drawing large crowds eager to witness this unique gastronomic challenge.
At the age of 41, Chestnut consumed an impressive 70 and a half hot dogs and buns within a mere 10 minutes. While he fell short of his previous record of 76 hot dogs in 2021, this victory marked his 17th win in 20 appearances, reinforcing his status as a competitive eating legend. Last year, he was unable to participate after a disagreement over contractual terms, which arose after he struck a deal with Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat company. However, he reaffirmed his commitment to Nathan’s, stating that it remains the only hot dog brand he has worked with and acknowledged he should have communicated that more clearly.
After the contest, a jubilant Chestnut expressed his desire to have eaten more, saying, “I wish I ate a couple more. Sorry guys,” as he thanked the cheering crowd. He reassured fans, “I’ll be back next year,” signaling his intention to reclaim his record and entertain fans once again.
Miki Sudo, the defending champion in the women’s division, also competed fiercely, managing to consume 33 hot dogs. This victory marked her 11th title, although it fell short of her record-breaking 51 hot dogs from the previous year. Sudo expressed dissatisfaction with her performance, “I feel like I let the fans down a little bit,” mentioning that the buns seemed larger that day, which complicated her eating efforts.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from fans adorned in foam hot dog hats, creating a festive atmosphere. Chestnut, who competed against 14 other challengers from around the world including Australia, the Czech Republic, Ontario, England, and Brazil, outperformed last year’s winner, Patrick Bertoletti, who came in second with 46 and a half hot dogs. Bertoletti's previous win had consisted of 58 hot dogs, adding more anticipation to this year's contest.
Upon his victory, Chestnut shared his affection for the contest, “I love being here. As soon as I found out I was coming, my body – it was easy to train. I love doing it and love pushing myself and beating the heck out of people.” Reflecting on his absence last year, he stated, “I’m really happy to be back at Coney Island,” reinforcing the significance of this competition in his life and the tradition it represents.
Prior to the event, Major League Eating event organizer George Shea had confirmed Chestnut's absence from last year's contest due to the aforementioned contract issues. However, he utilized last year’s Fourth of July to participate in an exhibition at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where he managed to eat 57 hot dogs in only five minutes. Despite his unconventional appearance at that event, he expressed eagerness to return to Coney Island, highlighting the strong emotional connection he has with the Nathan's competition. This year’s contest was not just about competition; it was about reconnecting with a tradition that symbolizes American culture and Chestnut’s personal journey as a competitive eater.
