Telepeer

Joey Chestnut defends title at Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog contest

July 5, 2023

Joey Chestnut eats a hot dog as he competes for his 16th championship title during the 2023 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, July. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Competitive eaters Miki Sudo, left, and Joey Chestnut, right, pose for a photograph with host George Shea, center, during a weigh-in ceremony before the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, Monday, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Competitive eaters Miki Sudo, left, and Joey Chestnut pose for a photograph during a weigh-in ceremony before the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, Monday, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Competitive eater Joey Chestnut holds a plate of hotdogs representing his world record for eating 76 hotdogs and buns in ten minutes during a weigh-in ceremony before the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, Monday, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Competitive eaters Joey Chestnut, left, and Miki Sudo, right, face off during a weigh-in ceremony before the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, Monday, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Prankster, the Nathan’s Famous mascot, dances beside a table loaded with hotdogs representing the current world record for male competitive hotdog eating held by Joey Chestnut during a weigh-in ceremony before the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, Monday, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

This year’s woman’s champion Miki Sudo, left, and man’s champion Joey Chestnut, right, stand together during the 2023 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, July. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A general view shows the 2023 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Expand

By CAROLYN THOMPSON (Associated Press)

Eating superstar Joey “Jaws” Chestnut shook off a rain delay and gobbled his way to another win at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, downing 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes.

Chestnut out ate runner-up Geoffrey Esper and the rest of an international field of 15 competitive eaters by double digits to clinch his 16th title. Esper, of Oxford, Massachusetts managed to ingest 49 hot dogs and buns.

In the women’s contest, defending champion Miki Sudo forced down 39 1/2 hot dogs and buns to collect her ninth Mustard Belt. But before the men could compete, stormy weather moved over New York City’s Coney Island and delayed the competition for two hours.

“What a roller coaster, emotionally,” Chestnut said after riding out the rain and wondering whether the famed contest would go on at all. The 39-year-old from Westfield, Indiana first competed for the Nathan’s title in 2005 and hasn’t lost it since 2015.

His best finish was in 2021 when he tallied 76 hot dogs, but Tuesday’s weather disruption made a repeat impossible.

“Everybody got messed up,” Chestnut said.

Sudo beat Mayoi Ebihara’s 33 1/2 hot dogs in 10 minutes in a women’s event that appeared to be much closer until the final count was announced. The unofficial real-time counter showed the two leaders tied throughout much of the competition. A final count of plates settled the score.

Sudo, 37, was disappointed in her winning total, which was nine hot dogs short of her all-time high. She said competition from the 27-year-old Ebihara had thrown her off.

“The first couple minutes, I found myself watching her, which I never want to do. I never want to be distracted by the other competitors,” Sudo, of Port Richey, Florida, said after the competition. “Watching her, I fumbled my hands. I got stuck with a big burp early on but was able to correct.”

The annual contest on New York City’s Coney Island drew competitors from England, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Brazil and Australia, according to ESPN.

Sports |

Nneka Ogwumike’s career highs may be attribute to carrying a lighter load with Sparks

Sports |

Tour de France: Jasper Philipsen makes it back-to-back stage wins, Yates keeps overall lead

Sports |

Andy Murray gets a win at rainy Wimbledon and a thumbs-up from Roger Federer

Sports |

Lakers’ Max Christie looking to further showcase on-ball skills in summer league

Sports |

How David Smith and his wife Kelli are making a world of difference

Orange County Register

News Details

Joey Chestnut defends title at Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog contest

Related Articles

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS