Frankfurt munch phenom Joey “Jaws” Chestnut gobbled up his 15th win at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest on Monday, eating 63 hot dogs and buns at the annual Excess Fair.
In a crucial chowdown comeback, women’s record holder Miki Sudo tumbled down 40 sausages and buns to win the women’s title after skipping last year’s Frankfurter Fest because she was pregnant.
Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo pose with 63 and 40 hot dogs respectively after winning the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island on Monday, July 4, 2022 in New York. Julia Nikhinson/AP
On Monday, the competition also returned to its traditional location outside of Nathan’s flagship store in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood. The event was rescheduled in 2020 and last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s nice to be back,” Chestnut told ESPN in front of a crowd of spectators after his feat, which the 38-year-old performed while wearing surgical boots for a leg injury.
“It hurts, but I was in the zone a bit. I ignored it,” Chestnut said, but the pain eventually slowed his pace in the 10-minute contest.
Last year, the Westfield, Indiana resident surpassed his own record by consuming 76 franks and buns.
Sudo, from Tampa, Fla., set the women’s record with 48 1/2 weeps and buns in 2020 before taking time off last year while expecting. She and Nick Wehry — a competitive eater she met at the 2018 Nathan competition — welcomed son Max on July 8, 2021.
From dad’s arms, the baby watched as his 36-year-old mother scored her eighth win for Nathan. She told ESPN afterwards that she hoped he’d take a message from it one day.
“I want to make a statement,” she said, “to do things that you love and to push your absolute limits and when things get difficult, still try and come out victorious.”
Sudo then took over the upbringing duties while Wehry attempted for the men’s title.
In connection with the spectacle, Nathan’s is donating 100,000 Swiss francs to the Food Bank for New York City.