CNN
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Joey Chestnut ate 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win the Nathan’s Hot Eating Contest for a record 16th time, and Miki Sudo downed 39.5 dogs to win the women’s competition for the ninth time in a row at a Day of Independence marked by a long weather delay. .
Chestnut said afterward that it was a rollercoaster of a day because of the bad weather.
“We were told it was canceled,” Chestnut said. “We weren’t sure about eating today. I’m just happy. It’s the Fourth of July, I’ve got to eat some hot dogs and get a win.”
“I feel great,” he added. “I’ve got some room left over, so I’ll have a few beers later.”
Geoffrey Esper was second with 49 hot dogs, and Australia’s James Webb was third with 47.
The gluttonous Independence Day event brought thousands of people to Coney Island, New York, on Tuesday to watch competitive diners gobble down as many hot dogs as their stomachs will allow in just 10 minutes.
A heavy rain and lightning storm hit Coney Island around noon, shortly before the men went out to compete, scattering the crowd for shelter. The weather delay lasted about two hours and the event started again at 2pm ET.
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement warning of “severe thunderstorms” and “frequent cloud-to-ground lightning” in parts of Brooklyn, specifically mentioning Coney Island.
A possible injury from lightning may have occurred in Coney Island, according to a preliminary storm report from the National Weather Service. The FDNY said they responded to an “electrocution” call shortly before noon in Coney Island and transported one person to Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn.
Chestnut was the heavy favorite for men and has now won 16 of the last 17 Independence Day contests, including 63 hot dogs last year. He set a competition record with 76 dogs put down in 2021.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Chestnut said he was willing to push himself to an “extreme” limit in the contest.
“I know I’m not going to feel great after this time,” he said. “It’s going to take about four days to really feel normal, and the first 12 hours after the pageant I’m going to feel like garbage. I go in knowing that and I’m ready to go through it because it’s an amazing pageant, it’s July 4 , and I’ll do whatever it takes to get number 16.”
The women’s competition appeared near the end between Sudo, the top female in the competitive rankings, and newcomer Mayoi Ebihara. But a review by officials determined that Ebihara finished with 33.5 dogs, while Michelle Lesco was third with 24.5.
Sudo won last year’s title with 40 hot dogs and bags the women’s world record to eat 48.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes. After winning this year’s title, he expressed his disappointment with his final tally.
“Thirty-nine is a low number, but sorry guys,” he told the crowd.
The would-be hot dog champions faced off at the flagship restaurant Nathan’s Famous at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island on the southern edge of Brooklyn in New York City.
The event began with pre-show festivities, including music and dance performances, according to the Professional League of Food Contestswhich sanctions the event.
Diners must be 18 years of age or older to participate and must have participated in a qualifying event in May or June. Nathan is housed four classification tests for the big show, with the top male and female finishers from each receiving invitations to the July 4 showdown.
Each contestant has their own scoreboard to keep track of their total total, according to CNN affiliate WABC. Water and other beverages are allowed, as are condiments. Penalties can be issued for “messy eating and regurgitation,” WABC reports.
The top diner in each category takes home $10,000, according to WABC. Second place wins $5,000, third place $2,500, fourth $1,500 and fifth $1,000. Each champion also receives the coveted Mustard Belt.
