No crowd, no problem: Joey Chestnut smashes his own July 4 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest with 75 dogs in 10 minutes, while Mika Sudo sets a new women’s record of 48 – but pandemic means no fans
While this year’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest had no spectators, one thing remained the same – Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo came out on top.
The 36-year-old Chestnut devoured 75 wieners in 10 minutes on Saturday to win the Mustard Yellow Belt for the 13th time in 14 years.
Chestnut beat his own record of 74 hot dog, which he set in 2018.
‘It was hard,’ Chestnut told ESPN. At one point, Chestnut was downing some 10 hot dogs per minute.
‘I knew I was fast in the beginning. It was like blistering speed.
Joey Chestnut ate 75 hot dogs to capture his 13th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Brooklyn on Saturday
Miki Sudo won her seventh consecutive contest after eating a record 48.5 hot dogs
‘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.’
Darron Breeden finished second in the men’s competition with 42 hot dogs and buns.
Sudo set her own world record by eating 48.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Chestnut is seen above eating one of the 75 hot dogs on Saturday
‘I knew I was fast in the beginning. It was like blistering speed,’ he said
Chestnut looks exhausted after he realizes he is the winner of the contest on Saturday
Her victory on Saturday was the seventh consecutive triumph for Sudo.
She smashed the previous record of 45 held by Sonya Thomas, which was set in 2013.
‘I feel great,’ said Sudo.
‘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.’
Chestnut, a native of San Jose, California, is the defending men’s champion, having downed 71 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes last year for his 12th title.
A year earlier, he set the record with 74 hot dogs and buns.
Sudo, a New York native, managed to wolf down a record 48.5 hot dogs on Saturday
She easily won her seventh consecutive title, besting the second-place finisher by more than 30 hot dogs
Last year, Sudo won her sixth straight crown by eating 31 hot dogs and buns
Chestnut and Sudo each take home a $10,000 prize as well as their respective championship belts
New York’s Sudo won her sixth consecutive women’s crown last year by devouring 31 hot dogs and buns.
The contest, a fixture of the summer entertainment calendar, was altered this year when organizers said that it would be held without fans in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The contest, traditionally held on Coney Island in New York, went on at a private location with special health measures being enacted.
The men’s and women’s fields were reduced from 15 to five competitors to aid in social distancing.