Joey Chestnut wins record breaking 17th Nathan's Famous Hot Dog contest

Yahoo

2 days ago

The legend of Joey Chestnut added another chapter on July 4, as he captured his 17th title at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Held as always at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, the annual Independence Day tradition once again showcased Chestnut's dominance in the world of competitive eating.
Chestnut was back in the event after missing the 2024 event due to sponsorship drama with Impossible Foods. Patrick Bertoletti won the event with 58 hot dogs and buns.
Following the famous introductions from George Shea:
"And he will not stop until he stands side by side with the gods. Ladies and gentlemen...... Joey Chestnut."
Chestnut won the event by eating 70.5 hot dogs and buns.
His first minute, he saw 11 hot dogs and buns, and by 2:00 he was at 20. After 3:00, Chestnut had a lead of 10 hot dogs and buns over Patrick Bertoletti. Chestnut had 38 after 4:00 of the contest.
At the halfway point, Chestnut had downed 46 of them, at a blistering pace. With 4:00 to go, he was at 51, and 19 ahead of Bertoletti. He got to 56 after 7 minutes of the contest.
In the final three minutes, Chestnut slowed down a little bit, getting to 60 to 2:00 to go. The next minute, he got only 5 of them in. The final minute, he downed 5 more to finish at 70.
His previous record was 76 in 2021.
James Webb finished third with 45.5 hot dogs and buns, while Patrick Bertoletti was second at 46.5.
Thousands of fans gathered under the summer weather, of 78 degrees on Surf and Stillwell Avenues, just outside the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand, to watch the most anticipated eating competition of the year. The crowd, waving American flags and chanting Joey's name, created a festive yet intense atmosphere.
Joey Chestnut first entered the spotlight in 2005, when he qualified for the Nathan's contest and immediately challenged then-champion Takeru Kobayashi. The following year, Chestnut broke the American record, setting the stage for a rivalry that brought global attention to competitive eating. In 2007, Chestnut finally dethroned Kobayashi and began his reign at the top.
Since then, Chestnut has gone hand and hand with the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. His consistency and drive have made him a fan favorite and a sports icon in his own right. Beyond hot dogs, he holds records in dozens of other eating disciplines, from chicken wings to apple pie.
With his 17th Nathan's title, Chestnut extends his own record for most wins in the event's history. At 41 years old, he continues to train year-round and shows no signs of slowing down.
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest dates back to 1916 and has become a staple of Independence Day celebrations across the United States. Televised nationally and streamed around the world, it mixes pageantry with athleticism and absurdity in a uniquely American way.
Miki Sudo won her 11th Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on the women's side with 33 hot dogs and buns.