The Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American hot dogcompetitive eating competition. It is held each year on July 4 at Nathan's Famous' original, and best-known, restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.
The contest has gained public attention since the mid-2000s due to the stardom of Takeru "The Tsunami" Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut. The defending men's champion is Chestnut, who ate 62 hot dogs in the 2023 contest. The defending women's champion is Miki Sudo, who ate 39.5 hot dogs in 2023.[1]
The field of about 20 contestants typically includes the following:
any past champion;
winners of a regional qualifying contest for that season;
individuals qualifying as one of two wildcards (highest two average qualifier scores without winning a single qualifier); and
those invited by special invitation of the MLE.
The competitors stand on a raised platform behind a long table with drinks and Nathan's Famous hot dogs in buns. Most contestants have water on hand, but other kinds of drinks can and have been used. Condiments are allowed, but usually are not used. The hot dogs are allowed to cool slightly after grilling to prevent possible mouth burns. The contestant who consumes (and keeps down) the most hot dogs and buns (HDB) in ten minutes is declared the winner. The length of the contest has changed over the years, previously 12 minutes, and in some years, only three and a half minutes; since 2008, 10 minutes.
Spectators watch and cheer on the eaters from close proximity. A designated scorekeeper is paired with each contestant, flipping a number board counting each hot dog consumed. Partially eaten hot dogs count and the granularity of measurement is eighths of a length. Hot dogs still in the mouth at the end of regulation count if they are subsequently swallowed. Yellow penalty cards can be issued for "messy eating",[2] and red penalty cards can be issued for "reversal of fortune", which results in disqualification.[2] If there is a tie, the contestants go to a 5-hot-dog eat-off to see who can eat that many the quickest. Further ties will result in a sudden-death eat-off of eating one more hot dog in the fastest time.
After the winner is declared, a plate showing the number of hot dogs eaten by the winner is brought out for photo opportunities.
Awards
The winner of the men's competition is of the coveted international "bejeweled" mustard-yellow belt. The belt is of "unknown age and value" according to IFOCE co-founder George Shea and rests in the country of its owner. In 2011, Sonya Thomas won the inaugural women's competition and its "bejeweled" pink belt.
Various other prizes have been awarded over the years. For example, in 2004 Orbitz donated a travel package to the winner. Starting in 2007, cash prizes have been awarded to the top finishers.
History
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held at the original location on Coney Island most years since about 1972, usually in conjunction with Independence Day.[3] In 1973, 14 year old Michael Rabin won the contest and was on Local channel 7 news. Due to the meat shortage and to avoid bad press, Nathan's had to pretend the contest never happened, therefore not listing Michael Rabin as the winner.
Nathan's promoter Mortimer "Morty" Matz claimed that on July 4, 1916, four immigrants held a hot dog eating contest at Nathan's Famous stand on Coney Island to settle an argument about who was the most patriotic. A man by the name of Jim Mullen is said to have won the first contest,[4] although accounts vary. One account describes Jimmy Durante (who was not an immigrant) as competing in that all-immigrant inaugural contest, which was judged by Eddie Cantor and Sophie Tucker.[5] Another co-founder describes the event as beginning "in 1917, and pitted Mae West's father, Jack, against entertainer Eddie Cantor."[6] Nathan made the spurious claim that the contest has been held each year since then except 1941 ("as a protest to the war in Europe") and 1971 (as a protest to political unrest in the U.S.).
In 2010, promoter Matz admitted to having fabricated the legend of the 1916 start date with a man named Max Rosey in the early 1970s as part of a publicity stunt.[7] The legend grew over the years, to the point where The New York Times and other publications were known to have repeatedly listed 1916 as the inaugural year, although no evidence of the contest exists.[7] As Coney Island is often linked with recreational activities of the summer season, several early contests were held on other holidays associated with summer besides Independence Day; for example, multiple contests in the 1970s were scheduled on Memorial Day[8][9][10] or Labor Day.[11]
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the competition was dominated by Japanese contestants, particularly Kobayashi, who won six consecutive contests from 2001 to 2006. In 2001, Kobayashi transformed the competition and the world of competitive eating by downing 50 hot dogs—smashing the previous record of 25.5. The Japanese eater introduced advanced eating and training techniques that shattered previous competitive eating world records. The rise in popularity of the event coincided with the surge in popularity of the worldwide competitive eating circuit.
On July 4, 2011, Sonya Thomas became the champion of the first Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for Women.[12] Previously, women and men had competed against each other, except for one Memorial Day competition held in 1975.[9] Eating 40 hot dogs in 10 minutes, Thomas earned the inaugural Pepto-Bismol-sponsored pink belt and won $10,000.[13]
In recent years, a considerable amount of pomp and circumstance have surrounded the days leading up to the event, which has become an annual spectacle of competitive entertainment. The event is presented on an extravagant stage complete with colorful live announcers and an overall party atmosphere. The day before the contest is a public weigh-in with the mayor of New York City. Some competitors don flamboyant costumes and/or makeup, while others may promote themselves with eating-related nicknames. On the morning of the event, they have a heralded arrival to Coney Island on the "bus of champions" and are called to the stage individually during introductions. In 2013, six-time defending champion Joey Chestnut was escorted to the stage in a sedan chair.
The competition draws many spectators and worldwide press coverage. In 2007, an estimated 50,000 came out to witness the event. In 2004 a three-story-high "Hot Dog Eating Wall of Fame" was erected at the site of the annual contest. The wall lists past winners, and has a digital clock which counts down the minutes until the next contest. Despite substantial damage suffered at Nathan's due to Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, the location was repaired, reopened, and the 2013 event was held as scheduled.
ESPN has long enjoyed solid ratings from its broadcast of the Hot Dog Eating Contest on Independence Day, and on July 1, 2014, the network announced it had extended its agreement with Major League Eating and will broadcast the contest through 2024.[14] The event continues to be recognized for its power as a marketing tool.[15] The most recent broadcast rights deal, announced in November 2022, will keep the contest airing on ESPN through 2029.[16]
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the contest was held without spectators at an indoor location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and only five eaters competed in each category instead of the usual 15.[17][18] In 2021, the event was held at Maimonides Park, with a reduced crowd of 7,000.
In 2003 former National Football League player William "The Refrigerator" Perry competed as a celebrity contestant. Though he had won a qualifier by eating twelve hot dogs, he ate only four at the contest, stopping after just five minutes.[19] The celebrity contestant experiment has not been held since.
At the 2007 contest, the results were delayed to review whether defending champion Kobayashi had vomited (also known as a "Roman method incident" or "reversal of fortune") in the final seconds of regulation. Such an incident results in the disqualification of the competitor under the rules of the IFOCE. The judges ruled in Kobayashi's favor. A similar incident occurred involving Kobayashi in 2002[20] in a victory over Eric "Badlands" Booker.
Kobayashi has not competed in the contest since 2009 due to his refusal to sign an exclusive contract with Major League Eating, which is the current sanctioning body of the contest. In 2010, he was arrested by police after attempting to jump on the stage after the contest was over and disrupt the proceedings. Some witnesses reported that Kobayashi was attempting to congratulate the winner, Chestnut.[21][22][23] On August 5, 2010, all charges against Kobayashi were dismissed by a judge in Brooklyn. Despite his six consecutive victories in their annual event, Nathan's removed Kobayashi's image from their "Wall of Fame" in 2011. Kobayashi again refused to compete in 2011, but instead conducted his own hot dog eating exhibition, consuming 69 HDB, seven more than Chestnut accomplished in the Nathan's contest.[24] The sports website Deadspin deemed Kobayashi's solo appearance "an improbably perfect 'up yours' to the Nathan's hot dog eating contest."[25]
Results
By year (color-coded by belt color)
Year
Winner (and date, if prior to permanently moving all contests to Independence Day in 1997)
Miki Sudo returns from her pregnancy to reclaim her title. After being shoved from the table, Joey Chestnut puts a protester who ran onto the stage during the event in a chokehold. Geoffrey Esper (47 HDB) finished second. James Webb (41 HDB) finished third.
WOMEN'S Miki Sudo
40
2021
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
76
10 min
The event is held at Maimonides Park due to capacity restrictions and other health and safety requirements. Joey Chestnut breaks the world record with 76 HDB. Defending champion Miki Sudo was out due to her pregnancy.
First time event is being held indoors without fans caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Joey Chestnut breaks the world record with 75 HDB. Darron Breeden (42 HDB) finished second. Nick Wehry (39.5 HDB) finished third. Miki Sudo breaks the women's world record with 48.5 HDB.
WOMEN'S Miki Sudo
48+1⁄2
2019
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
71
10 min
Joey Chestnut won his 12th title. Darron Breeden (50 HDB) finished second. Geoffrey Esper (47 HDB) finished third. Sudo (31 HDB) edged out Lesco (26 HDB) to win her sixth Nathan's belt.
WOMEN'S Miki Sudo
31
2018
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
74
10 min
After a judging error had left the results in question, the final results showed that Joey Chestnut broke the world record with 74 HDB. Carmen Cincotti (64 HDB) finished second. Darron Breeden (43 HDB) finished third. Sudo won her fifth women's belt. Michelle Lesco (28 HDB) finished second. Sonya Thomas and Juliet Lee (25 HDB) tied for third. This is the last competition that Thomas competed in.
WOMEN'S Miki Sudo
37
2017
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
72
10 min
Joey Chestnut breaks the contest record with 72 HDB. Carmen Cincotti (60 HDB) finished second. Matt Stonie (48 HDB) finished third. Sudo won her fourth women's title, beating Michelle Lesco (32 HDB) and Thomas (30 HDB).
WOMEN'S Miki Sudo
41
2016
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
70
10 min
Joey Chestnut won the mustard-colored belt for the ninth time, eating 70 hot dogs and buns. Defending champion Matt Stonie consumed 53 HDB. Sudo (38+1⁄2) won her third consecutive women's title, edging out Thomas (35 HDB). At the Giant National Capital BBQ Battle in Washington, D.C., on June 25, Chestnut set the record of 73.5 in an official qualifier.[27]
Matt Stonie ended the 8 year winning streak of Joey Chestnut, eating 62 HDB to Joey's 60. Tim Janus (35 HDB) finished third. Sudo won her second women's belt, beating Thomas (31 HDB).
WOMEN'S Miki Sudo
38
2014
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
61
10 min
Joey Chestnut faced fierce competition from Matt Stonie, who finished second with 56 HDB. Tim Janus (44 HDB) finished in 3rd. This became Joey's 8th consecutive win. Miki Sudo (34 HDB) dethroned Thomas (27+3⁄4 HDB), the first time in the history of the competition that Thomas had been defeated since the inception of the women's division. Sudo also ended a long tradition by becoming the first champion in a quarter-century to decline to use a nickname during Nathan's competitions.
WOMEN'S Miki Sudo
34
2013
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
69
10 min
Joey Chestnut beat his own record with 69 HDB. Matt Stonie (51HDB) finished second. Tim Janus (50 HDB) finished in 3rd. After facing fierce competition from Juliet Lee (36 HDB), Thomas (36+3⁄4 HDB) won her third title.
Chestnut tied his previous record, previously set in 2009. He also became the second person to win six consecutive titles. Tim Janus (52.25) and Patrick Bertoletti (51) finish second and third. Matt Stonie, who would go on to claim victory in 2015 finished fourth with 46 HDB. Bob Shoudt was 5th (45 HDB) broke Thomas' record for oldest person to eat their age in HDB (45 yr) Thomas (45 HDB) broke the female record and set a new record for the oldest person to eat their age in HDB (44 yr), beating Juliet Lee (33 HDB).
WOMEN'S Sonya Thomas
45
2011
MEN'S Joey Chestnut
62
10 min
Separate competitions are held for women and men for the first time. Chestnut dominates on his way to his fifth straight title. Sonya Thomas (40 HDB) won the inaugural women's event. Patrick Bertoletti (53) and Tim "Eater X" Janus (45) finish 2nd and 3rd for the second year in a row.
WOMEN'S Sonya Thomas
40
2010
Joey Chestnut
54
10 min
Chestnut (54), Tim "Eater X" Janus (45), and Patrick Bertoletti (37) round out the top three.
2009
Joey Chestnut
68
10 min
Chestnut (68 HDB) beat his previous record in 10 minutes, setting new event, U.S., and world records. Kobayashi (64+1⁄2 HDB) set a Japanese record. Patrick Bertoletti (55 HDB) finished third. Sonya Thomas (41 HDB) broke the female record.
2008
Joey Chestnut
59
Eat-off: 5
10 min
Eat-off: untimed, but completed in 50 sec.
Event, Japanese, U.S., and world records set (59 HDB). First event using the new ten-minute time limit, and first tie and eat-off since 1980. Chestnut & Kobayashi tied for first with 59 in regulation. In overtime Chestnut is the first to finish a plate of 5 HDB in 50 seconds. Kobayashi, losing by 7 seconds, finishes second. Tim Janus finished third with 42.
2007
Joey Chestnut
66
12 min
Having broken the world and U.S. records with 59+1⁄2 HDB at a qualifier contest on June 2, 2007, Chestnut (66 HDB) finishes first, setting new event, U.S. and world records. Defeating Kobayashi (63 HDB) for the first time. Fifth place Sonya Thomas (39 HDB) sets female record.
Winner Kobayashi sets event, Japanese and world records. Second place Joey Chestnut (52 HDB), sets U.S. record. Sonya Thomas (37) finishes third.
2005
Takeru Kobayashi
49
12 min
2nd: Sonya Thomas (37) sets U.S. record, Women's record. Future winner Joey Chestnut finishes third with 32.
2004
Takeru Kobayashi
53+1⁄2
12 min
Event, United States and world records set. 2nd: Nobuyuki Shirota (38), Sonya Thomas (32 HDB) sets the female and U.S. records.
2003
Takeru Kobayashi
44+1⁄2
12 min
Sonya Thomas (25 HDB) sets the female record. 2nd: Ed Jarvis (30+1⁄2, American record), 3rd: Eric Booker (29). Twenty competitors and 3,000 spectators in attendance. William "The Refrigerator" Perry competes, but eats only four HDB and drops out after five minutes.[28]
2002
Takeru Kobayashi
50+1⁄2
12 min
Event, Japanese and world records set.
2001
Takeru Kobayashi
50
12 min
20 competitors total. All-time world records set.[29] 2nd: Kazutoyo Arai (31), 3rd: Eric "Badlands" Booker (22).
2000
Kazutoyo Arai
25+1⁄8
12 min
The contest was won by a 100-pound 32-year-old mattress salesman from Saitama, Japan. The prizes were "the coveted mustard-yellow International Belt, a huge red trophy, and 20 pounds of Nathan's hot dogs." Misao Fujita (also known as "Wild Beast"[30]) of Japan was the runner-up and consumed 24 hot dogs. A woman, Takako Akasaka of Japan, was the third-place finisher and consumed 22 hot dogs. 41 year old locomotive machinist Steve Addicks of Finksburg, Maryland, was the fourth-place finisher and consumed 21 hot dogs. 391-pound, 35 year old reigning champion Steve Keiner of Atlantic City, New Jersey "finished in the middle of the pack" and consumed 15 hot dogs. "Dozens" of contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916.[31] Another describes this as the 85th annual contest.[30]
The contest was won by a 317-pound, 50-year-old man from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. The prize was the bejeweled mustard-colored belt[32] and 60 pounds of hot dogs.[33] Footage recorded by NY1 appeared to show that he actually consumed half of a hot dog before the starting gun was fired and should have been disqualified by the judges. Charles Hardy and Bartoszek Tadeusz, both of Brooklyn, were the runners-up and consumed 20 hot dogs each. Hardy charged that he could have consumed more had he been given another plate of hot dogs before time expired.[34] 134-pound, reigning champion Hirofumi Nakajima of Japan consumed 19 hot dogs.[32] Former champion Mike DeVito also participated.[34]
1998
Hirofumi Nakajima
19
12 min
The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 135-pound, 23 year old furniture delivery worker from Kōfu, Japan. The prizes were "the coveted mustard-yellow International Belt, a huge red trophy, and 20 pounds of Nathan's hot dogs."[35] A 387-pound, 29 year old corrections officer from Brooklyn, Charles "Hungry" Hardy, was the runner-up and consumed 17+1⁄2 hot dogs.[36] 381-pound, 35 year old mechanical engineer and former champion Ed Krachie came out of retirement in a vain attempt to break Japan's win streak but was the third-place finisher and consumed 14 hot dogs. A 53 year old haggis-eating champion from the United Kingdom, Barry Noble, also participated. In all, 16 contestants participated.[37]
1997
Hirofumi Nakajima
24+1⁄2
12 min
Although Nathan's attempted to expand its pool of American contestants by sponsoring "a circuit of qualifying contests leading up to the grand finale on the Fourth,"[38] Japanese contestants continued to increase their influence. The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 135-pound, 22 year old furniture delivery worker from Kōfu, Japan. The prizes were "a large emerald and brass trophy, a Mustard-Yellow International Belt, and a 20-pack take-out order for Nathan's hot dogs." 100-pound, 30 year old future champion Kazutoyo Arai of Saitama, Japan was the runner-up and consumed 24 hot dogs. 330-pound, 34 year old former champion Ed Krachie was the third-place finisher and consumed 20 hot dogs. 23 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916.[39]
1996
ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN Hirofumi Nakajima December 4
23+1⁄4
12 min
The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 300-pound man from Queens.[40] The prizes apparently included the bejeweled mustard-yellow belt and a trophy, if not more.[41] Former champion Mike DeVito was the runner-up and consumed 20 hot dogs.[40] 200-pound, 42 year old Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa was also a contestant.[42] 20 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1916, except for 1939, 1940, and 1941[40]—this time held under the moniker "Battle of the Burroughs."[42] A later 1996 contest was also sponsored by Nathan's (and TV Tokyo[43]), but was held at Central Park instead of at its traditional location. It was won by a 144-pound, 22-year-old man from Japan; he had never eaten a hot dog until the day before the competition. The prizes were the bejeweled mustard-yellow belt and $2,000. 320-pound, 33 year old mechanical engineer Ed Krachie of New York was the runner-up. Only those 2 contestants participated.[44]
The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 32 year old accountant.[47] Future champion Ed Krachie was the runner-up.[45] 40 year old Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa was the third-place finisher[42] and consumed 13 hot dogs.[47]
1993
ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN Mike DeVito October 27[48]
18
30 min
The contest was won by a former champion, a Wall Street brokerage firm worker from Manalapan Township, New Jersey. The prize was 365 hot dogs. Joe Gotay of Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed 14+1⁄2 hot dogs. Willie Dykstra of Brooklyn was the top female contestant and consumed 7+1⁄2 hot dogs. 18 men and 2 women participated. The reigning champion, 290-pound Frankie Dellarosa of Brooklyn, "canceled out at the last minute due to a family emergency"[49] and was unable to defend his title. Instead, he declared that he was now retired from competitions and planned to pursue an acting career,[50] something that he would later have a modest success in.[51] A press account from the time describes this as the 77th annual contest, held regularly since 1916.[49] A later 1993 contest was also sponsored by Nathan's (and recorded by TV Tokyo), but was held under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan instead of at its traditional location. It was won by reigning champion DeVito.[52] Years later it was stated that the prize was the bejeweled mustard-colored belt "created by the descendants of Fabergé" that remains in use today but had supposedly been held in Japan for some years after having been won by a Japanese contestant at Nathan's[38] (presumably at the February 11, 1986, competition). The earliest that the belt's existence is known to be covered by the press is 1996.[42] A woman, Orio Ito of Japan, was the runner-up and consumed 16 hot dogs. Only those 2 contestants participated.[52]
The contest was won by the reigning champion. The prize was 365 hot dogs.[53] Former and future champion Mike DeVito was the runner-up and consumed 17 hot dogs.[50] 18 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 76th annual contest.[53]
1991
Frankie Dellarosa Independence Day
21
12 min
The contest was won by a 270-pound, 23 year old engineer[54] and part-time Hofstra University football coach[50] from Queens. The prize was "a 3-foot trophy, topped with an athlete, plate, and hot dog. He also received hats, cups, and a year's supply of hot dogs." 20 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 75th annual contest, this time held under the motto "No Guts, No Glory."[54]
1990
Mike DeVito Jay Green Independence Day
15
12 min
The contest was tied by the reigning champion, from Brooklyn, (Green) who was allowed to compete again despite previous contest rules, and a 28 year old from Staten Island (DeVito).[55] There was apparently no tie-breaking eat-off. A press account from the time describes this as the 7th annual contest.[56]
1989
Jay Green Independence Day
15+1⁄2
12 min
The contest was won by the reigning champion, a 215-pound, 31 year old dry wall contractor, who, as per contest rules, was declared "retired" after the competition for being a two-time winner. 24 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 73rd annual contest.[57]
1988
Jay Green Independence Day
10
12 min
The contest was won by a 30 year old limousine service manager from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. 13 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 72nd annual contest.[58]
1987
Don Wolfman Independence Day
13+1⁄2
10 min
29 year old future champion Jay Green was the runner-up and consumed 13+1⁄4 hot dogs.[58] A press account from the time describes this as the 71st annual contest.[59]
1986
Mark Heller Independence Day
15+1⁄2
10 min
The contest was won by a 245-pound man; the prizes were a plaque and a year supply of hot dogs.[60] Robert Gerber was the runner-up and consumed 13 hot dogs. 24 men participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 70th annual contest, held regularly since 1916.[61] An earlier 1986 contest was also sponsored by Nathan's. It was won by a 264-pound, 21-year-old student from Tokyo, Japan. Reigning champion Oscar Rodriguez was the runner-up and consumed 9+1⁄2 hot dogs. Only those 2 contestants participated.[62]
ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN Hiroaki Tominaga February 11
10+1⁄2
10 min
1985
Oscar Rodriguez Independence Day
11+3⁄4
12 min
The contest was won by a 21-year-old man. More than 40 contestants participated.[63]
1984
Birgit Felden Independence Day
9+1⁄2
10 min
The contest was won by a 130-pound,[64] 17 year old West German women's judo team member[6] from Cologne; she had never eaten a hot dog before the competition. Publicist Morty Matz described her as being only the second female to have ever won the contest. 17 year old U.S. women's judo team member Jean Kanokogi (and daughter of Ryohei and Rusty Kanokogi) of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed 8 hot dogs. 20 men and 4 women participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 68th annual contest.[64]
1983
Emil Gomez Independence Day
10+1⁄2
10 min
The contest was won by a 210-pound, 25 year old accountant from the Bronx.[65] His brother, Andre Gomez, was the runner-up and consumed 10 hot dogs. 11 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 17th annual contest.[66]
The contest was held on Monday, July 5, the observed date of Independence Day, as the holiday fell on a Sunday. It was won by a 26 year old from Flushing, Queens.[67] He ate one bite of a twelfth hot dog.[68] Sid Smith of Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed 10 hot dogs, and Risto Puulos of Helsinki was the third-place finisher and consumed 8.[67]
The contest was won by a 35 year old Housing Authority gardener from Coney Island, Brooklyn. He "downed 11 hot dogs in five minutes and then rushed off with his family to attend a barbecue."[70]
The contest was tied by a 190-pound, 25 year old unemployed pharmacist (Baldini) and a 260-pound, 21 year old unemployed actor (Siederman), both from Brooklyn. Each then tied again after a tie-breaking eat-off. The prizes were "two trophies and a pair of yellow plastic bags". Reigning co-champion Jim Mattner was the third-place finisher and consumed approximately 9 hot dogs. 28 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 64th annual contest.[71]
The contest was tied by a 172-pound 17-year-old boy from Brooklyn (Frazier) and a 205-pound, 35 year old bond dealer from Ozone Park, Queens (Mattner). Each then tied again after a tie-breaking eat-off.[72] They consumed what was considered a "record" number of hot dogs, when including the eat-off total.[68] A press account from the time describes this as the 63rd annual contest.[72]
The contest was held on Memorial Day and was tied by a 180-pound, 18 year old basketball player from Newark, New Jersey (Hollenback) and a 75-pound, 10-year-old student (Sinclair). There was apparently no tie-breaking eat-off. 28 contestants participated. A press account from the time describes this as an annual contest held regularly since 1917, except for 1942 and 1944.[10]
1976–1977
(no documented contests)
1975
MEN'S Lonnie Brown Memorial Day
8
3+1⁄2 min, with a 1 min break
An all-female contest was originally scheduled to be held on Memorial Day with the winner to be declared "Miss Coney Island;"[9] the contest was won by a 30 year old market researcher from Manhattan.[73] A contemporary press account indicates that when the contest was held it was ultimately decided to allow men to participate and that the top-finishing male was awarded a plaque;[74] he was a 28 year old National Guardsman from Far Rockaway, Queens. 15 contestants participated.[73]
The first 1974 contest was held on April 7 (opening day for Coney Island's summer season activities)[75] and was won by a 22 year old Manhattan Community College student from Astoria, Queens; the prize was a trophy.[76] Six contestants participated.[75] The second 1974 contest was held on Independence Day and was won by a 185-pound, 24 year old from Brooklyn; the prize was "a trophy with an emblazoned hot dog on it".[77] The third 1974 contest was held on Labor Day and was tied by Walter Paul—the event's first two-time winner—and Paul Sirop.[78] There was apparently no tie-breaking eat-off.
Roberto Muriel Independence Day
10
3+1⁄2 min
John Connolly Opening day of Coney Island's summer season (April 7)
9
2+1⁄2 min
1973
(unknown) Independence Day
(unknown)
(unknown)
The first 1973 contest was scheduled to be held on April 7 (opening day for Coney Island's summer season activities) but was canceled due to the 1973 meat boycott. A press account from the time describes this to have been the 23rd annual contest.[79] A contest was scheduled to be held on Independence Day (designated as the 106th anniversary of the invention of the hot dog) and refereed by the "1973 Hot Dog Queen,"[80] but no results are known to have been compiled and released to the public.
(canceled) Opening day of Coney Island's summer season (April 7)
—
—
1972
Melody Andorfer Labor Day
12
5 min
The first 1972 contest was held on Memorial Day and was won by a Brooklyn College student; the prize "was a book of certificates for forty more hot dogs".[8] The second 1972 contest was held on Labor Day and was won by a 105-pound, 18-year-old female community activist from Astoria, Queens;[11] the prize was a paper crown (on July 2, 2021, she received a belt similar to those awarded to recent winners, for her past achievement).[81] 260-pound, 19 year old Gary Silverman of Brooklyn was the runner-up and consumed 10 hot dogs. 8 men and 8 women participated. A press account from the time describes this as the 23rd annual contest.[11]In 2020, the Coney Island History Project interviewed Andorfer.[82]
Jason Schechter Memorial Day
14
3+1⁄2 min
1968–1971
(no documented contests)
1967
Walter Paul Centennial celebration of the invention of the hot dog (June 30)
The contest was held on June 30 (designated as the 100th anniversary of the invention of the hot dog) and was won by a 400-pound, 32 year old truck driver. The prize was "a trophy proclaiming him the world's champion hot dog eater." He consumed the hot dogs over the period of "one hour flat".[83][84] It is not immediately clear if he ate buns with the hot dogs.
^a final total may have been affected by interruption from protestor[85] ^b though Walter Paul's 1967 feat is documented in multiple UPI press accounts from the time, he has also been mentioned in passing in more recent press accounts for supposedly establishing the contest's then-record 17 hot dogs consumed; several other people have similarly been credited for records of 13+1⁄2, 17+1⁄2, or 18+1⁄2 hot dogs consumed; the following feats are not known to be documented more fully in press accounts from the time of their occurrence and, as such, may not be credible and are not included in the Results table above:
"Several years" before 1986: unspecified contestant, 13+1⁄2[62] 1979: unspecified contestant, 17+1⁄2[58] 1978: Walter Paul (described as being from Coney Island, Brooklyn), 17[86] 1974: unspecified contestant, 16[69] 1968: Walter Paul (described as "a rotund Coney Island carnival caretaker"), 17[57] 1959: Peter Washburn (described as "a one-armed Brooklyn Carnival worker"), 18+1⁄2[87] or 17[50] 1959: Paul Washburn (described as a carnival worker from Brooklyn), 17+1⁄2[54] 1959: Walter Paul (described as a 260-pound man from Brooklyn), 17[66] 1957: Paul Washburn, 17+1⁄2[56]
^a prior to restructuring the competition to offer women's-only contests, the media was known to use the term "women's category" to describe female participation;[88] the top-finishers of the "women's category" in this era included, for 2003:Sonya Thomas (25), 2004: Sonya Thomas (32), 2005: Sonya Thomas (37), 2006: Sonya Thomas (37), 2007: Sonya Thomas (39), 2008: Sonya Thomas (34), 2009: Sonya Thomas (41), and 2010: Sonya Thomas (36)[89]
One-on-One Challenges with Japan (1986, 1993, 1996)
In 2003, ESPN aired the contest for the first time on a tape-delayed basis. Starting in 2004, ESPN began airing the contest live. From 2005 to 2017, Paul Page was ESPN's play-by-play announcer for the event, accompanied by color commentator Richard Shea. In 2011, the women's competition was carried live on ESPN3, followed by the men's competition on ESPN. In 2012, ESPN signed an extension to carry the event through 2017.[90] In 2014, ESPN signed an agreement to carry the competition on its networks for 10 years until 2024.[91]
In 2021, Miki Sudo did not compete, as she was 37 weeks pregnant with her first child with fellow professional eater, Nick Wehry. Sudo instead served as an announcer, alongside Mike Golic Jr., Richard Shea, and Jason Fitz.
Hungry (2013) documentary film; contract dispute between Nathan's Famous and Kobayashi
"30 for 30: The Good, The Bad, The Hungry" (2019); ESPN Documentary
Newspapers
News sources typically use puns in head-lines and copy referring to the contest, such as "'Tsunami' is eating contest's top dog again," "couldn't cut the mustard" (A.P.), "Nathan's King ready, with relish" (Daily News) and "To be frank, Fridge faces a real hot-dog consumer" (ESPN).
Reporter Gersh Kuntzman of the New York Post has been covering the event since the early 1990s and has been a judge at the competition since 2000. Darren Rovell, of ESPN, has competed in a qualifier.[108]
Tactics and training
Each contestant has his or her own eating method. Takeru Kobayashi pioneered the "Solomon Method" at his first competition in 2001. The Solomon method consists of breaking each hot dog in half, eating the two halves at once, and then eating the bun.
"Dunking" is the most prominent method used today. Because buns absorb water, many contestants dunk the buns in water and squeeze them to make them easier to swallow, and slide down the throat more efficiently.[2]
Other methods used include the "Carlene Pop," where the competitor jumps up and down while eating, to force the food down to the stomach.[2] "Buns & Roses" is a similar trick, but the eater sways from side to side instead.[2] "Juliet-ing" is a cheating method in which players simply throw the hot dog buns over their shoulders.[2]
Contestants train and prepare for the event in different ways. Some fast, others prefer liquid-only diets before the event. Takeru Kobayashi meditates, drinks water and eats cabbage, then fasts before the event. Several contestants, such as Ed "Cookie" Jarvis, aim to be "hungry, but not too hungry" and have a light breakfast the morning of the event.
Takeru Kobayashi, also known as Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi, is a Japanese competitive eater.
A hot dog is a dish consisting of a grilled, steamed, or boiled sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. The term hot dog can refer to the sausage itself. The sausage used is a wiener or a frankfurter. The names of these sausages commonly refer to their assembled dish. Hot dog preparation and condiments vary worldwide. Typical condiments include mustard, ketchup, relish, onions in tomato sauce, and cheese sauce. Other toppings include sauerkraut, diced onions, jalapeños, chili, grated cheese, coleslaw, bacon and olives. Hot dog variants include the corn dog and pigs in a blanket. The hot dog's cultural traditions include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
Sonya Thomas , also known by her nickname The Black Widow, and "The Leader of the Four Horsemen of the Esophagus", is a South Korean-born American competitive eater from Alexandria, Virginia. Thomas joined the International Federation of Competitive Eating in 2003 and quickly rose to the top of the ranks, beating competitive eaters such as Eric Booker.
Competitive eating, or speed eating, is a sport in which participants compete against each other to eat large quantities of food, usually in a short time period. Contests are typically eight to ten minutes long, although some competitions can last up to thirty minutes, with the person consuming the most food being declared the winner. Competitive eating is most popular in the United States, Canada, and Japan, where organized professional eating contests often offer prizes, including cash.
Nathan's Famous, Inc. is an American company that operates a chain of fast-food restaurants specializing in hot dogs. The original Nathan's restaurant stands at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. The company's headquarters are at One Jericho Plaza in Jericho, New York, part of Oyster Bay, New York.
The Krystal Square Off was the official World Hamburger Eating Championship from 2004 to 2009, taking place in Chattanooga, Tennessee and sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). In this event, contestants ate as many Krystal hamburgers as possible in eight minutes.
Joseph Christian Chestnut is an American competitive eater. As of 2022, he is ranked first in the world by Major League Eating.
Tim Janus is an American entertainer, media personality and retired competitive eater known in the competitive eating community as "Eater X". He was a member of the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). He performed in contests wearing a painted mask and once stated, "I'd eat anything. One of my goals in life is to eat everything in the world at least once. I'd eat a roll of pennies if I thought I could set a world record. Some day I hope we make contact with beings from other planets. I'd love to eat alien."
Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti is an American competitive eater from Chicago.
Horsemen of the Esophagus by Jason Fagone is a nonfiction book about the sport of competitive eating and the outsized American appetite. Horsemen follows three American "gurgitators" during a year on the pro eating circuit: Ohio housepainter David "Coondog" O'Karma, South Jersey truck driver Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, and Manhattan day-trader Tim "Eater X" Janus. Horseman makes stops at 27 competitive eating contests around the world, including the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island and includes an interview with Nathan's champion at the time, Takeru Kobayashi.
Steven "Steve" Keiner is an American competitive eater. He was the 1999 winner of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, downing 20¼ hot dogs in 12 minutes. Keiner is from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey and like many competitive eaters has used nicknames during contests; one of his nicknames, "Ralph," was given to him by newspaper reporter Gersh Kuntzman, because Kuntzman "gave the eaters nicknames that linked them to sporting heroes past". Keiner is also sometimes known on the competitive eating circuit as "The Terminator."
Eric James "Badlands" Booker, also known by his online pseudonym BadlandsChugs, is an American competitive eater, rapper, and YouTuber. He holds seven Major League Eating recognized world records, three Guinness World Records, is a three-time Nathan's Lemonade Chugging Contest champion, and competed in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year from 1997 to 2018.
Erik "The Red" Denmark is an American competitive eater and a member of the International Federation of Competitive Eating. He lives in Seattle, Washington and is nicknamed after Erik the Red, who was a Viking that founded the first Nordic settlement in Greenland. He has a master’s degree in digital communications media and works in aerospace procurement.
Michael "The Scholar" DeVito is a competitive eater and hot dog eating champion, and three-time winner of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. "Mr. DeVito ate 20 hot dogs yesterday at the annual July 4th hot dog-eating contest on Coney Island, assuring him victory for the fourth time in five years." DeVito is 6 feet 2 inches and weighs just over 200 pounds (pre-competition). He set a personal best, eating 20 hot dogs, buns included, in the standard 12-minute competition period.
Major League Eating (MLE) is an organization that oversees professional competitive eating events and television specials. MLE's stated mission is to maintain a safe environment for all events, to create a dynamic and enjoyable fan experience, and to help sponsors develop, publicize and execute eating events in a wide variety of food disciplines. The league airs its annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN.
Matthew Kai Stonie is an American competitive eater and YouTuber. Stonie won the 2015 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, dethroning 8-time defending champion Joey Chestnut. Stonie has gained fame from his YouTube channel, to which he uploads video footage of his eating challenges.
Miki Victoria Sudo is an American competitive eater. She won the women's competition at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year from 2014 to 2020, unseating Sonya Thomas, who had won the women's competition since its inception in 2011. She captured her ninth title in 2023.
Carmen Cincotti is an American competitive eater and holder of multiple records in Major League Eating, who earned $10,000 for his second-place finish in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2017 in which he ate 60 hot dogs in ten minutes, twelve fewer than repeat champion Joey Chestnut. From August 2018 to June 2019, he was ranked number two in Major League Eating.
Michelle Cristeen Lesco is an American competitive eater. She is the 2021 women's champion in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, with 30.75 hot dogs and buns consumed in 10 minutes on July 4, 2021, ending Miki Sudo's 7-year reign.
Zach's Shack is a dive bar and hot dog restaurant in Portland, Oregon.
↑ "America is 204 years old". Boca Raton (Fla.) News (sec. A, p. 2). July 4, 1980. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
1 2 3 Howard Thompson (May 26, 1975). "Going Out Guide". The New York Times (p. 6). Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
1 2 "Two share prize". Ellensburg (Wash.) Daily Record (p. 11). May 31, 1978. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
↑ "Winner a hot dog". Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard (sec. A, p. 2). July 7, 1986. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
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