Joey "Jaws", a Frankfurter-munching phenom, ate his way to a 15th victory Monday at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. He ate 63 hot dogs at the annual exhibit of excess.
After skipping the frank fest last year, Miki Sudo, women's record holder, ate 40 wieners.
Monday marked the return of the contest to its original location, outside Nathan's flagship store in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was moved in 2020 and last.
Chestnut, 38, said that it was beautiful to be back there in front of a crowd of people after his feat. He did this while wearing a surgical boot due to a leg injury.
It hurts but it was a temporary discomfort. Chestnut said that he ignored it, but eventually the pain slowed down his pace during the 10-minute competition.
The Westfield resident, Indiana, set a new record last year by eating 76 franks, buns, and other goodies.
Sudo of Tampa, Florida set the women's record with 48 1/2 weiners/buns in 2020. She then took last year off to be pregnant. Nick Wehry, a fellow competitor eater she met through the Nathan’s contest in 2018, welcomed Max on July 8, 2021.
The baby was able to watch his mother, 36, win her eighth Nathan's award from dad's arms. Afterward, she told ESPN that she hoped he would one day take away a message from it.
She said that she wanted to set an example and encourage others to do the same. You might just be victorious, you never know.
Sudo took over the parenting duties, while Wehry attempted to win the title of men's president.
Nathan's also donates 100,000 Franks to the Food Bank for New York City in conjunction with the spectacle.
