Food contests and eating competitions are a source of much intrigue on the internet. We see how people exercise their jaws and stomachs to go beyond human consumption limits and win prizes. This time on fourth of July, a hotdog eating contest was organised as is the tradition on the US Independence Day. The reigning champion of the annual U.S. Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Joey Chestnut secured his 16th career win in a spectacular display of gustatory prowess. Against all odds, including a thunderstorm delay at the iconic Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating contest in New York City's Coney Island, the indomitable 39-year-old from Indiana remained undeterred. Guess how many hotdogs he ate to achieve the mean feat? Watch the video and see for yourself:
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Joey Chestnut consumed 62 frankies in just 10 minutes. His closest competitor, Geoff Esper from Massachusetts, could devour only 49 hot dogs, Reuters reported.
However, Chestnut fell short of surpassing his own world record of 76 hot dogs, a feat he achieved last year at the same contest. In an interview, Chestnut shared that he intends to continue his quest for greatness in the world of competitive eating. "Today things got in the way, but I'll be coming back," Chestnut told ESPN.
Reportedly, has consumed over 1,150 hotdogs at the competition, ever since it began in 2004.
Last year, Chestnut managed to eat 63 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. While doing all this, he also took down a protestor in the middle of the competition. When Chestnut was devouring his 18th hot dog, an anonymous man rushed the stage wearing a Darth Vader mask. He carried a sign board that read, "Expose Smithfield Deathstar," referring to the pork supplier Smithfield Foods, as per the animal activist group Direct Action Everywhere.
Meanwhile, in the women's contest this year, New York City native Miki Sudo emerged victorious. Miki Sudo — who claimed her eighth title last year — defended it by eating 39 and a half dogs within 10 minutes. Notably, she also set the women's world record in 2020 by devouring 48.5 hot dogs.