NEW YORK – On a sweltering Saturday, crowds flocked to Coney Island, New York, to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday by witnessing an iconic event: the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. This year, competitive eating champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut showcased his skills by devouring an impressive 66 hot dogs in just 10 minutes, defending his title against a diverse group of competitors.
For Chestnut, 42 years old, this victory marks his 18th win at the contest, which he has participated in 21 times. He outperformed 13 challengers from various countries, including the Czech Republic, Australia, and South Korea, solidifying his status as a legend in the competitive eating community.
“It’s a dream, it’s electric, there’s no place better on Earth,” Chestnut exclaimed after the event, wearing a flashy necklace that featured the name of a sports betting company. He even referred to competitive hot dog eating as “the most patriotic sport we’ve got” in a pre-competition video.
Chestnut’s closest competitor, Patrick Bertoletti, 41, managed to eat 50 hot dogs, but fell short of Chestnut’s record of 76, set in 2021, which averages out to about 7.6 hot dogs per minute. In the women’s division, defending champion Miki Sudo, 40, from Tampa, Florida, claimed her 12th Mustard Belt by eating 38.75 hot dogs, a slight drop from her record of 51 in 2024.
After her win, Sudo joined the audience to cheer on her husband, who famously proposed to her after setting a world record for eating 50 boiled eggs in just over three minutes.
Both champions faced a grueling challenge as a heatwave hit New York, with temperatures soaring to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) during the competition. The humidity also affected the buns’ consistency, making the task even more difficult. “I just said I would have to rely on muscle memory, and the crowd really carried me through to another belt today,” Sudo commented.
Despite the challenges, a large crowd gathered, some wearing foam hot dogs on their heads and others standing under makeshift umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. Many superfans even donned ponchos to prepare for the possibility of competitors vomiting during the event.
Earlier this year, there were concerns about Chestnut’s participation in future competitions due to a legal issue involving a misdemeanor battery charge. However, Major League Eating confirmed that this did not affect his eligibility for the contest.
After securing another victory, Chestnut expressed his disappointment at not surpassing his previous record. “Dang, I got so much room left,” he said, earning him the nickname “Michelangelo of Mastication” from announcers.
