Joey Chestnut has proved his competitive eating skills once again. The 38-year-old snagged his 15th win at the 4th of July Nathan’s Famous Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York. On Monday, Chestnut managed to eat a total of 63 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Though the feat is certainly impressive, it was not a personal best for Chestnut. As People magazine reports, last year, he ate a record 76 hot dogs in the contest.
“It’s beautiful to be back here,” Chestnut told ESPN after the contest changed locations in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite having to wear a surgical boot due to a leg injury, Chesnut said he couldn’t be slowed down during the contest. “It hurts, but I was in the zone for a little bit. I was ignoring it,” he said. Chestnut’s runner-up, Geoffrey Esper, put down a total of 47.5 hot dogs on Monday.
In the women’s division, top-ranked competitor Miki Sudo returned after missing the 2021 event due to her pregnancy. (Michelle Lesco ended up winning the 2021 title after eating 30 ¾ hot dogs in 10 minutes.) This time around, Sudo earned the title after eating 40 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
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