GENERAL NEWS
Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo break records in hot dog eating contest
Jul 4, 2020, 10:57 AM
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: Joey Chestnut reacts before the men's hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2019 in New York City. Nathan's held its first hot dog eating contest in Coney Island on July 4, 1916. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
Joey Chestnut has surpassed the greatness of Rafael Nadal in the French Open. He extended his status as a greater hot dog champion than Bill Russell was NBA Finals champion.
Chestnut, in breaking his own world record by devouring 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes on Saturday, won the Mustard Yellow Belt for the 13th time.
With 13 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest titles, he surpassed Nadal’s 12 French Open victories and extended his advantage over Margaret Court’s 11 Australian Open wins, Bill Russell’s 11 NBA championships and Henri Richard’s 11 Stanley Cups.
Chestnut had set the previous record of 74 hot dogs in 2018.
Most championships/titles in a single event:
1. Joey Chestnut: 13 (Nathan’s Famous)
2. Rafael Nadal: 12 (French Open)
T3. Margaret Court: 11 (Australian Open)
T-3. Bill Russell: 11 (NBA title)
T-3. Henri Richard: 11 (Stanley Cup)🐐 status
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 4, 2020
He said this year felt different without the crowd noise around him.
“It was hard,” Chestnut said afterward, according to ESPN. “I knew I was fast in the beginning. It was like blistering speed. And the dogs were cooked really well today. Minute six is where I really missed the crowd … and I hit a wall, and it took me a little bit more work to get through it. This is a crazy year, and I’m happy I was able to get a record.”
He beat second-place finisher Darron Breeden by 33 hot dogs.
Miki Sudo also continued her domination of the event.
She won her seventh straight title by eating 48.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, which broke the record in the women’s competition of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest.
The second-place finisher to Sudo ate 16 hot dogs.
With seven titles, Sudo now has the second-most in the contest’s history, behind only Chestnut.
“I feel great,” Sudo said to ESPN after the event. “I’m sure the physical effects will kick in in a little bit. I think the condensed preparation period really lit a fire under me.”
