Tim Janus

Last updated
Tim Janus
Eater x 21aug2005.jpg
Eater X in his classic pose at the 2005 Midway Slots Crabcake Eating Competition
Born (1976-12-31) December 31, 1976 (age 47)
Occupation(s)Entertainer, media personality
Known forProfessional eater, contestant on The Amazing Race

Tim Janus (born December 31, 1976) is an American entertainer, media personality and retired [1] 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." [2]

Contents

Career

The IFOCE's 2004 Rookie of the Year, in the summer of 2005 Janus advanced to the Final Four of the inaugural Alka Seltzer U.S. Open of Competitive Eating, a single-elimination tournament featuring 32 of the world's best eaters. He is the current tiramisu, ramen noodles, and nigiri sushi-eating champion of the world. [3]

In 2006, Janus was featured on the show "True Life: I'm a Competitive Eater" along with then world-champion hot-dog eater Takeru Kobayashi. The show showcased his daily life, including his training for different events.[ citation needed ]

In 2007, Tim was a test subject in a documentary, The Science of Speed Eating from National Geographic. He underwent an upper gastrointestinal series and was shown to have a stomach that expands four times larger than a normal stomach. His digestive rate of the stomach was also slower than a normal human.[ citation needed ]

On July 4, 2007, just before the release of the final Harry Potter book, Janus appeared on-stage at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest with a sign saying "Hermione dies". [4] Janus would later admit that the stunt led to rules against signage at competitive eating events, and that he suffered a significant amount of personal backlash for the prank. [2]

On September 22, Janus ate 10¾ 18-ounce burritos (made of rice, black beans, pork, cheese and a mild sauce wrapped in a tortilla) in a 12 minutes to win the $3,000 Costa Vida world burrito-eating championship. [5]

On November 21, 2007, Janus helped draw attention to the plight of New York City's homeless by consuming a Thanksgiving meal for four, including a 10-pound turkey, four pounds of mashed potatoes, three pounds of cranberry sauce, 2½ pounds of beans, and a pumpkin pie. The IFOCE donated $6,000 to Second Harvest, a hunger-relief organization, to celebrate the accomplishment. Second Harvest estimated that the donation would provide 30,000 meals to area residents.[ citation needed ]

On May 16, 2009, Janus became the third person in the history of the world to eat 50 or more hot dogs and buns in a Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, consuming exactly 50 in his qualifier in Hartford, Connecticut. In the finals on July 4, he ate 53 hot dogs. [6]

On July 4, 2010, Eater X placed second at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest by eating 45 hot dogs and losing to Joey Chestnut who ate 54 hot dogs and buns. [7]

In an August 24, 2010, episode of Shaq Vs. on ABC, Tim coached a team led by Shaquille O'Neal to victory in a hot dog eating contest against Joey Chestnut. [8]

He is the current champion of the Doodle Challenge, a hamburger eating contest in Connecticut.[ citation needed ]

Janus appeared in the music video for the Boston Spaceships song "Let it Rest for a Little While" from the band's 2009 album "Zero to 99".[ citation needed ]

On October 13, 2012, Janus tied for second place with Bob Shoudt in the World Poutine Eating Championship, after eating 8.5 lbs of poutine (or 17 boxes) in 10 minutes. [9]

Janus announced his retirement from competitive eating on July 3, 2016 via Twitter. He said that "I've wondered how long-term stupid competing is for my health. I can't ignore that feeling anymore." [1]

On December 7, 2017, it was announced that Janus and Joey Chestnut would be competing on the 30th season of The Amazing Race . [10]

World records

Game show appearances

Tim appeared on the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2009, winning $100,000 before choosing to walk away, although he had surmised the correct answer to the $250,000 question. Millionaire at the time had an event called the Million Dollar Tournament of 10 where the ten highest earning contestants from the season's first 45 shows will return for a chance to answer a million dollar question, and Janus qualified as the fifth seed for the Million Dollar Prize. He returned on November 16 to answer his Million Dollar Question.

$1 Million (Tournament of 10 #5) - 3:16 time limit (0:45+2:31 banked)
Who once wrote, "'Bartlett's Familiar Quotations' is an admirable work," a quotation now listed in "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations"?
• A: Truman Capote• B: John Lennon
• C: Winston Churchill• D: Mark Twain

As the game progressed, he first said that he knew the answer to the question, but it was later revealed that he was toying with Meredith, as a response to her "tricking" contestants in the Hot Seat. He had an inkling towards Winston Churchill (which was the correct answer) but decided to walk away because he was not even sure and because of the money at risk.[ citation needed ]

He also won $1600 on the Discovery Channel show Cash Cab with Ben Bailey.[ citation needed ]

Professional burping

On June 8, 2012, in New York City, Janus was crowned World Burping Champion by the World Burping Federation after he produced a single, continuous burp lasting 18.1 seconds.[ citation needed ]

On July 19, 2012, Janus appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to burp for William Shatner.[ citation needed ]

Getting drunk on non-alcoholic beer

On August 28, 2013, Deadspin released a video of Janus' attempt to become, in his words, "the first person in the history of the world to get legally drunk (.08) on" non-alcoholic beer. In the video, Janus drinks 28 cans and bottles of various non-alcoholic beers and then blows into a breathalyzer. A .02 reading is recorded, leading Janus to conclude that if he can't get drunk on O'Doul's, nobody can. [11]

Acting

Often appearing on television to talk about competitive eating, Janus began appearing on television in acting roles too. Although he usually plays himself (notably in a music video for the Boston Spaceships and in commercials for Major League Eating: The Game and ESPN's Sportscenter ), in 2016 he appeared on Showtime's Billions playing a hedge fund trader named Jones.[ citation needed ] In 2016, Janus also appeared on The Eric Andre Show .

Weatherman

In 2014, Janus began delivering weather reports when visiting local TV stations to promote contests in which he was competing. On February 8 in Orlando, Florida, he provided the weather report on FOX 35's morning news broadcast. On March 28, on a visit to WPMI in Mobile, Alabama, Tim again provided the weather forecast.[ citation needed ]

Video games

Janus appears as a character in Major League Eating: The Game, available on WiiWare and iTunes.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takeru Kobayashi</span> Japanese competitive eater (born 1978)

Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi is a Japanese competitive eater. Described as "the godfather of competitive eating", he is a six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion and widely credited with popularizing the sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest</span> American food eating competition

The Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American hot dog competitive 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonya Thomas</span> Korean-American competitive eater (born 1967)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Competitive eating</span> Activity in which participants compete to consume large quantities of food

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.

Bob Shoudt, also known as "Humble Bob" or "Notorious B.O.B.", is an American competitive eater from Royersford, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Chestnut</span> American competitive eater (born 1983)

Joseph Christian Chestnut is an American competitive eater. As of 2024, he is ranked first in the world by Major League Eating.

Richard "Rich" LeFevre is a competitive eater from Henderson, Nevada. Rich and his wife, Carlene LeFevre, are sometimes referred to as "the First Family of Competitive Eating", and are both top ranked members of the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The couple has combined to take two of the top seven places in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He competed at Wing Bowl XIV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in which he placed second behind Joey Chestnut, another IFOCE champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Bertoletti</span> American competitive eater

Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti is an American competitive eater from Chicago. He takes part in a variety of different eating competitions—notable wins include the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest and the first-ever world poutine eating competition in Toronto. He also holds numerous world records, including the most milk consumed in an hour.

Charles Hardy, known as Hungry Charles Hardy, was an American competitive eater from Brooklyn, New York, United States. Hardy was a long-standing member of the International Federation of Competitive Eating. He retired from the sport in 2005 to become the IFOCE's commissioner. During the latter half of 2004, Hungry Charles displayed dominance in eating, placing second and third in major events throughout the USA. Hardy secured victory for six consecutive years in the Civil Service qualifier for the hot dog circuit and he maintains records in sushi, shrimp, and cabbage.

Takako Akasaka is a Japanese competitive eater from Osaka, Japan. She is considered the most successful female competitive eater in Japan.

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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Booker</span> American competitive eater and rapper

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 four-time Nathan's Lemonade Chugging Contest champion, and competed in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year from 1997 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major League Eating</span> Competitive eating league

Major League Eating (MLE) is an organization that oversees professional competitive eating events and television specials. The league airs its annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Stonie</span> American competitive eater

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.

Dale Boone is an American competitive eater who holds several records for, among others, devouring pelmeni and hot dogs. Having been featured on numerous television programmes, he has proclaimed himself "Mouth of the South". Boone claims to be the great grandson of Daniel Boone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miki Sudo</span> American competitive eater

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 a record tenth title in 2024. She has the current women's record for the contest, with 51 hot dogs eaten in it, which she did in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yasir Salem</span> American triathlete, cyclist, and competitive eater

Yasir Salem is an American triathlete, marathon enthusiast, cyclist, and competitive eater. He is currently ranked number 11 in Major League Eating’s list of competitive eaters.

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.

Edward “Cookie” Jarvis is a retired competitive eater and a member of the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE). He is a real estate agent, married father of two, and cancer survivor. When Cookie Jarvis became a competitive eater in 2001, he was 365 pounds, and retired in 2006 reaching 525 pounds. His best finish in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest came in 2003, when he set an American record of 30½ hot dogs in 10 minutes. This put him in second place behind Takeru Kobayashi.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "timjanus on Twitter" . Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 5 Quick Questions With... Eater X
  3. ↑ "Major League Eating & International Federation of Competitive Eating". www.majorleagueeating.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  4. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube . Retrieved 6 February 2017.[ dead YouTube link ]
  5. ↑ "New Yorker scarfs down 10 burritos, takes title". NBC News . 23 September 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "NATHAN'S FAMOUS 4TH OF JULY INTERNATIONAL HOT DOG EATING CONTEST (2009)". majorleagueeating.com. Major League Eating · International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "NATHAN'S FAMOUS FOURTH OF JULY INTERNATIONAL HOT DOG EATING CONTEST (2010)". majorleagueeating.com. Major League Eating · International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Amazing Race: Tim "Eater X" Janus Trained Shaq To Eat Hot Dogs". 2paragraphs.com. 2paragraphs Productions, LLC. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "World Poutine Eating Championship sees surprise win" . Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "The Amazing Race 30: Meet the Most Competitive Cast Yet". TVGuide.com. 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  11. ↑ Bennert, Kate (August 28, 2013). "Will Drinking 28 Non-Alcoholic Beers In An Hour Make Me Drunk?". Deadspin . Retrieved 26 March 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.