A man identified as Joey Chestnut has made history after eating 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes at Nathan’s hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July in Coney Island, New York.
Chestnut devoured an astonishing 62 hot dogs in just 10 minutes, securing his 16th consecutive victory and setting a new record.
The event drew a massive crowd of spectators eager to witness the gluttonous spectacle amidst a heavy downpour
The delay caused by the heavy storm lasted approximately two hours, but the contest resumed at 2 p.m. ET, much to the delight of the enthusiastic audience.
Prior to the storm, the National Weather Service had issued a special weather statement warning of severe thunderstorms and lightning in the Brooklyn area, specifically mentioning Coney Island.
In an interview with CNN, Chestnut expressed his determination to push himself to the extreme during the contest, acknowledging that the aftermath would be physically challenging.
He anticipated feeling unwell for several days and enduring discomfort for the initial 12 hours after the event. Nevertheless, driven by the significance of the Fourth of July and his pursuit of an extraordinary 16th victory, Chestnut was willing to endure the discomfort.
Competing against Chestnut were 15 other eaters, including renowned participants like Geoffrey Esper, Nick Wehry, and Gideon Oji.
The epic showdown took place at Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant, located at the intersection of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, a symbol of south Brooklyn in New York City.
Before the contest, the Professional League of Eating Contests, the governing body overseeing the event, organized pre-show festivities featuring music and dance performances.
To be eligible to participate, eaters had to be 18 years or older and have qualified through preliminary events held in May or June.
Nathan’s hosted four qualifying events, and the top male and female finishers from each received coveted invitations to compete in the July 4 spectacle.
During the contest, each participant had their own dedicated scorekeeper to keep track of their hot dog consumption.
While water, other beverages, and condiments were allowed, penalties could be issued for messy eating or regurgitation, as reported by CNN affiliate WABC.
The winners in each category received a grand prize of $10,000, while the second, third, fourth, and fifth-place finishers earned $5,000, $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 respectively.
Additionally, the champions were bestowed with the prestigious Mustard Belt, a symbol of their unparalleled eating prowess.
