American Retains World Hot Dog Eating Title

New York - Joey Chestnut of San Diego, California retained his world hot dog eating championship. He defended his title in the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating contest in Coney Island against six-time world champion Takeru Kobayashi of Tokyo, Japan. Kobayashi downed 64 dogs and the accompanying buns.

Kobayashi, who had won the coveted Mustard Belt title from 2001 to 2006, lost to Chestnut last year after a tie sparked a five hot dog eat off.  Chestnut set a new record for the Independence Day celebration at 68 dogs in 10 minutes to his closest contender, Kobayashi’s 64.

Chestnut said in an interview on ESPN, "After the second minute I knew my body was cooperating.” He said that he knew at that point that he had a good chance of staying in the lead.

Petite Sonya Thomas, also known as the ‘Black Widow’ because she supposedly creates widows by destroying her burly men competitors, won the female world record by eating 41 dogs and buns at the same event. She won against last year’s female champion Juliet Lee, a salon owner from Maryland.

Besides the eat off being broadcast on national television, there was an estimated 40,000 people in attendance.

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Related Reading:

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• American Wins Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Again
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• Unstoppable Japanese Wins Eating Contest Yet Again
• Sonya Thomas, Petite Lady Out Eats the Biggest of Men