Joey Chestnut has strengthened his legacy as a competitive eater by winning the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest for the 18th time. He consumed 66 hot dogs and buns in Coney Island, finishing ahead of his rivals.
This victory marks his 10th consecutive win, although Chestnut faced a temporary exclusion from the 2024 event due to a sponsorship conflict. Despite starting with fierce competition from 2024 champion Patrick Bertoletti and James Webb, Chestnut pulled ahead after the initial 90 seconds. By the three-minute mark, he had eaten 28 hot dogs while Webb and Bertoletti managed 22 and 21, respectively.
Reaching the halfway point, Chestnut had consumed 42 hot dogs, establishing a lead of ten over his closest competitors. As the contest progressed, he maintained a record pace, striving to break his own record of 76 hot dogs. However, intense heat and the challenge of eating impacted his performance. Though reaching 60 hot dogs with a minute remaining, he concluded the contest with 66 hot dogs.
Chestnut revealed he realized early on that a new record would be elusive but remained composed to secure the win. This victory was achieved under unique circumstances as Chestnut was serving probation due to a misdemeanor battery charge. He received permission to travel to New York for the event.
Miki Sudo took the title in the women’s event, consuming 39 hot dogs and buns, a continuation of her dominance in the competition since 2014.
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