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Joey Chestnut Breaks Nathan's Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Competition With 72 Dogs Downed

What to Know

  • Hot dog-eating champion Joey Chestnut ate 72 dogs in 10 minutes this year, besting his 2016 record by 2 dogs and buns
  • Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas holds the women's record for the contest, with 45 dogs and buns
  • Five demonstrators were arrested at this year's event after they tried to unfurl a banner

Reigning hot dog-eating champion Joey Chestnut has taken the win again in the Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating competition.

He trounced the competition Tuesday afternoon with 72 dogs and buns eaten at Coney Island, besting his previous Coney Island record of 70 dogs in 10 minutes. Carmen Cincotti came in second place with 62.

"It's another great Fourth of July," Chestnut said moments after winning his 10th Mustard Belt in 11 years.

The tally broke the previous record at a Nathan's hot dog eating competition for dogs downed, although Chestnut said he thought he could have done better. 

The women's division of the contest earlier saw reigning champion Miki Sudo, of Las Vegas, take her fourth title in a row, eating 41 dogs in 10 minutes.

She beat Michelle Lesco, who downed 32 franks and buns. Women's record-holder Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas came in third with 30.

Thomas holds the women's record for the contest, at 45 dogs and buns.

Dozens of competitive eaters descended on Coney Island Tuesday morning to gobble for their pride - and cash prizes - at the renowned hot dog eating contest in New York.

The competition is screened live by ESPN, and the women's section wrapped just after 11:15 a.m with Sudo the victor. Chestnut won shortly after 1 p.m. 

The competition was not without some controversy. The unofficial count for dogs eaten by Sudo was originally 36. But the official count showed the real number consumed was significantly different: 5 more dogs.

Sudo said afterwards that she knew the count was off.

Chestnut was defending his title at the showdown on the Coney Island boardwalk. Chestnut beat out nemesis Matt "The Megatoad" Stonie in the 2017 rematch.

Chestnut downed 72 franks and buns in 10 minutes last year, topping his own Coney Island record. 

Stonie came in third this year, with 48 franks and buns.

Both competitors hail from California's Bay Area. 

Despite his latest achievement, Chestnut said he had “slowed down quite a bit.”

“I was sweating like a mad dog,” he said following Tuesday's victory. “I know I could do better.”

Chestnut credited his training as a competitive eater.

"I think outside the box," he said. "I have to treat competitive eating like a sport. It's not just like going to a buffet. I'm not a buffet buster. I train. I fast. I tape my practices and try and figure out how to improve so I make my body work for me and I've been really lucky with how it's performed."

The chowdown showdown usually draws thousands of spectators.

Five demonstrators were arrested about halfway through the men's competition after they tried to unfurl a banner at the event, according to police. 

The winner of the hot dog eating competition gets $10,000.

Record-setting eaters are gearing up to gobble at the renowned Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest in New York.

Nine-time champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut is defending his title Tuesday at the showdown on the Coney Island boardwalk.

Chestnut's facing Matt "The Megatoad" Stonie in a rematch. Chestnut downed 70 franks and buns in 10 minutes last year, topping his own Coney Island record.

Meanwhile, Miki Sudo (MIHK'-ee SOO'-doh) is hoping for a fourth title in a row as she confronts Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas in the women's competition. Sudo powered through 38 1/2 hot dogs and buns to beat Thomas last year. But Thomas holds the women's record, at 45 franks.

The chowdown showdown usually draws thousands of spectators and is televised on ESPN.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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