After not competing in last year’s annual Fourth of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition, Joey Chestnut has announced that he will be back on Coney Island this year.
The competitive eater turned to X on Monday to share the news, writing, “I’m thrilled to be returning to the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.”
“While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathan’s is the only hot dog company I’ve ever worked with,” he continued.
Chestnut currently holds the men’s world record of eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes back in 2021. Chestnut won the contest every year from 2007 to 2014 and then every year from 2016 to 2023. Matt Stone won the contest in 2015, eating 62 dogs to Chestnut’s 60.
Last year, Chestnut was unable to participate due to a deal he had with a Nathan’s competitor. The champion previously represented Impossible Foods, which offers a plant-based hot dog option.
“We are very excited to have Joey back,” George Shea from Major League Eating told The Independent. “This will be the best contest in the history of sports.”
Every year, thousands of people show up on the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York, to watch the competitive eaters on July 4th (Independence Day).
Competitors must be 18 or older to compete. They have 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs, including the buns, as they can. Although some eating contests do allow condiments, MLE has declared that they are not allowed for Nathan’s. Contestants are given water, and they can also dip the hot dog buns into water to swallow them faster. The winner is the person who can eat the most within the given time.
Men and women used to compete together, but were split up into two different contests separated by gender in 2011.
Patrick Bertoletti took the top prize in the men’s contest last year, while defending champion Miki Sudo reigned supreme — and made history — in the women’s battle.
Sudo broke the previous record in the women’s contest, consuming 51 hot dogs in the allotted time period. This was her 10th time winning the coveted pink belt. The Florida native beat out 13 other competitors from around the world, including the runner-up from last year, Mayoi Ebihara, who came in second, consuming only 37 hot dogs. The third-place contestant, Michelle Lesco, ate 23.5 hot dogs.
