Breaks World Record In His Own Name, US Man Eats 76 Hot Dogs In 10 Minutes

Joey Chestnut at the competition. (YouTube screenshot/Joey Wagner - Steelers Streamer)

JAKARTA - Defending world champion Joey Chestnut broke his own world record on Sunday July 4, by devouring 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes during Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

This is the 14th time the world's top-ranked hot dog eater has won the title in the last 15 years, down 26 times more than second-ranked Geoffrey Esper and one more than Chestnut last year.

In the women's category, Michelle Lesco, ranked ninth overall, won her first championship title after consuming 30 3/4 hot dogs and buns, 6 3/4 more than runner-up Sarah Rodriguez.

Miko Sudo, the seven-time defending champion in the women's category, is not competing this year because she is expecting her first child at the end of this month. Sudo broke the women's record in 2020 when she ate 48.5 hot dogs and buns.

Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest. (Wikimedia Commons/Pablo Costa Tirado)

"It feels good. Even if I feel uncomfortable, everyone cheers me on and encourages me, it makes me feel good," said Chestnut from Westfield, Indiana in an interview with ESPN as quoted by The Guardian.

The annual 'Fourth of July' event took place in front of an audience at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, United States. Last year, this activity was held at a private location for the media due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I've been looking forward to this all year," said Chesnut, who said he missed the fans last year.

For your information, Nathan's said this contest was first held on July 4, 1916, when four immigrants competed to show how patriotic they were by eating hot dogs at Nathan's stand on Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, United States.

JOEY CHESTNUT WITH A NEW WORLD RECORD 76 HOTDOGS IN 10 MINUTES 14 titles pic.twitter.com/3iia7YIHdr

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 4, 2021