Joey Chestnut returned to Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Thursday, devouring 70½ hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to secure his record-extending 17th title.
Under sunny skies and ideal 78-degree weather on Coney Island, the 41-year-old champion left no doubt about his supremacy after missing last year’s event due to a sponsorship dispute. Chestnut was barred in 2024 when he partnered with plant-based brand Impossible Foods but reached an agreement with organizers last month to rejoin the competition.
His closest rival, defending champion Patrick Bertoletti, managed 46½ hot dogs—24 fewer than Chestnut’s total. Despite a slightly slower start, Chestnut settled into a rhythm that kept the Mustard Belt well within reach.
While his performance fell short of his own 2021 world record of 76 hot dogs, it still underscored his dominance in the sport. In 2024, he stunned fans at a separate event in Las Vegas by eating 83 hot dogs during a special Labor Day contest.
In the women’s division earlier Friday, Miki Sudo claimed her 11th title by finishing 33 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Though she holds the all-time women’s record of 51, set last year, Sudo’s victory was decisive. Michelle Lesco took second place with 22¾, edging out Domenica Dee in a tight race for the podium.
Source: CNN