Latest news with #Nathan'sFamousHotDogEatingContest
The South African
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Joey Chestnut returns to Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest: Is the record in danger?
Competitive eating icon Joey Chestnut is set to make his triumphant return to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest next month, after missing last year's event due to a sponsorship dispute. Chestnut, a 16-time champion and holder of the world record with 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes (set in 2021), announced his comeback on social media this week. 'This event means the world to me,' Chestnut wrote on X. 'It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.' Chestnut missed the 2024 competition following a disagreement with Major League Eating (MLE) over his endorsement deal with Impossible Foods, a plant-based company. However, he emphasised that his involvement in the plant-based space never conflicted with his love for traditional hot dogs. 'I'm excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do… Stay hungry!' he added. Major League Eating president Richard Shea confirmed the excitement, calling Joey Chestnut's return a moment that will make the 2025 contest 'the greatest Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest of all time.' Last year's champions were: Patrick Bertoletti , who ate 58 hot dogs to win the men's title , who ate 58 hot dogs to win the men's title Miki Sudo, who claimed her title with 51 hot dogs in the women's division The 2025 contest will take place as usual on Friday, 4 July at Coney Island in New York. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Joey Chestnut reveals his absurd goal for Nathan's hot dog eating contest return
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Though in the case of Joey Chestnut, it may be that absence makes the heart grow hungrier. Chestnut is returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating competition after a dispute relating to a sponsorship deal the famed eater had with a plant-based brand Impossible Foods led him to be barred from last year's competition on the Coney Island boardwalk. Major League Eating and Chestnut announced Monday morning that they thawed out the footlong-sized beef and that the sport's biggest star would be back for this year's contest, taking place in just over two weeks. Joey Chestnut is making his return to the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest this year, with a lofty goal. Paul Martinka 'I guess we learned from our mistakes maybe,' Chestnut said in an interview with TMZ. 'Last year, both sides kind of dug in our heels. I was working with a company they didn't think I should be working with and I said, 'no it wasn't against any part of our old agreements.' We just kind of met in the middle [this year] and I think when communication breaks down, bad things happen. 'We started talking again and we got it figured out.' The Post confirmed last week that the two sides were having conversations over a potential reunion and that other brand deals were not going to be a factor in talks. Chestnut also hinted at that factor in a statement released on Monday morning as part of his post on social media announcing his return to the Nathan's contest. The famed eater admitted to TMZ that it was 'tough' having to watch from the sidelines last year and that 'it kind of sucked that it wasn't my choice' not to be there. Joey Chestnut during the weigh-in ceremony ahead of the 2023 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. REUTERS 'It kind of makes you hungry,' he said. 'You kind of have to go without something in order to know how much you appreciate it and I'm definitely hungry for this year. Two and a half weeks, I'm going to be putting down some hot dogs.' With Chestnut's return, the competition may be shaking in their buns as the man nicknamed 'Jaws' declared he would be going into the competition looking to 'drop the hammer' and eying to hit the 80-dog mark. It ate a Nathan's record 76 in 2023. Patrick Bertoletti won last year's event in Chestnut's absence by eating 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Joey Chestnut Breaks Silence on Deal That Ended July 4 Hot Dog Contest Ban
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Joey Chestnut told USA TODAY on Monday that he was preparing for the "worst" — no pun intended — when the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest rolled around in July. Chestnut, a 16-time champion of the event, did not participate in America's premier food-eating competition in 2024. He was declared ineligible by virtue of a deal he made with Impossible Foods, maker of a plant-based hot dog product. The ban ended Chestnut's 19-year run as the face of the event. (1/3)I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years Im banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest. I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title. — Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) June 11, 2024 Lacking the brevity of Michael Jordan's two-word announcement of his return to the NBA in 1995, Chestnut broke his silence on the resolution of the contractual dispute that led to his one-year absence from the July 4 event. "It almost doesn't feel real yet," Chestnut told USA TODAY Sports. "I was preparing for the worst, but we were able to work it out." Joey Chestnut reacts after winning first place, eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes, during the 2022 Nathans Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2022 at Coney Island in... Joey Chestnut reacts after winning first place, eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes, during the 2022 Nathans Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2022 at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. MoreAccording to the report from Josh Peter, Chestnut agreed earlier this month to endorse only Nathan's hot dogs as part of a three-year contract with Nathan's and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (which runs the annual competition), but still has a deal with Impossible Foods. Patrick Bertoletti won the main event on the men's side at last year's Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest. He consumed 58 hot dogs to claim the title. Chestnut ate 62 hot dogs to win the event in 2023; his 76 hot dogs in 2021 are the gold standard. I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life. (1/3) — Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) June 16, 2025 "I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life," Chestnut wrote on Twitter/X Monday. "While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with. "I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I'm grateful we've been able to find common ground. I'm excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! Stay hungry!" Last year, Chestnut consumed a record 83 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in a televised event ("Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef") on Sept. 2. For more sports news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Nathan's most famous hot dog eater is back: Joey Chestnut will compete in 2025
For many, the Fourth of July is a day full of traditions. After a one-year hiatus, one of the most famous Fourth of July traditions in sports returns in its most famous form in 2025. Joey Chestnut will compete in the 2025 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest after being barred from the 2024 competition. "I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest," the hot dog-eating icon wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. "This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life." Chestnut, who won 16 of 17 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contests from 2007-23, was banned from competing in the 2024 event due to accepting a sponsorship deal with Nathan's competitor Impossible Foods. As it wasn't guaranteed that Chestnut would ever be able to compete in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest again, the 16-time hot dog eating champ shared he was able to work something out with Nathan's to allow him to participate in the 2025 event. "While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs," Chestnut wrote. "To be clear: Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with. "I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I'm grateful we've been able to find common ground." Even though Chestnut wasn't in Coney Island for last year's event, he still downed several hot dogs on the Fourth of July in 2024. He participated in a five-minute hot dog eating contest against four US Army soldiers at Fort Bliss. He out ate the four soldiers, downing 57 hot dogs to their combined 49 hot dogs. Additionally, the 57 hot dogs Chestnut ate at that event were just one shy of the number of hot dogs Patrick Bertoletti ate to win the 2024 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest (58). However, Bertoletti needed 10 minutes to eat that many hot dogs. Chestnut also competed against longtime rival Takeru Kobayashi in a live-stream hot dog eating event for Netflix on Labor Day in 2024. Chestnut, who overtook Kobayashi as the all-time winningest eater at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2013, took down his rival in that event, 83-66. Now, Chestnut will be back in Coney Island this summer. The last time he was there, he ate 62 hot dogs to win the 2023 competition. Two years prior, he broke his own 10-minute record, downing 76 hot dogs to win in 2021. Betting odds for the 2025 contest haven't been listed yet at legal sportsbooks in the United States. However, Chestnut will almost certainly be a heavy favorite to win this year's competition. He was listed as a -5000 favorite to win the event right before he won it in 2023. "I'm excited to be back on the Coney Island stage," Chestnut wrote, "doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! "Stay hungry!" Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Reigning Coney Island hot dog champ wants Joey Chestnut back even if it means losing title
This news is hard to swallow. Reigning Nathan's hot dog-eating champ Patrick Bertoletti fears he may no longer be the top dog amid rumors that notorious eater Joey Chestnut might be back for the annual Coney Island contest. 'Joey is the best hot dog eater ever, so to say I have a chance to win — I guess you can say it, but I don't know. It's difficult to beat him. He's the best for a reason,' Chicago's pride Bertoletti told The Post Wednesday. Advertisement 3 Patrick Bertoletti won the Mustard Belt after wolfing down 58 franks at last year's Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog eating contest. Paul Martinka Bertoletti took home the 2024 Mustard Belt at last year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest — which Chestnut was dramatically barred from over a contract dispute related to a sponsorship deal with another hot dog brand. Had the the 16-time Nathan's champ been there, he would have been a hard nut to crack for Bertoletti, who won by wolfing down 58 dogs — which is nearly 20 less than Chestnut's Nathan's personal best of 76 franks. Advertisement Chestnut also hadn't eaten less than 60 at the Coney Island contest since 2011 — and just two months after missing last year's Nathan's contest, Chestnut won another event with a record-breaking 83 franks. It was revealed Tuesday that Chestnut and Major League Eating were actively negotiating to have him return to the annual Coney Island event, though nothing was yet confirmed. Bertoletti also shot down any suggestions that the contested back-and-forth could have been a PR stunt, saying: 'I don't think anyone was that good to do that. I mean, if he does come back, it's probably make the contest bigger than ever. But I don't think that at all.' While hard to digest, the news isn't the wurst, Bertoletti emphasized — calling Chestnut his dining buddy for more than two decades. Advertisement 3 Joey Chestnut celebrates after eating 57 hotdogs in five minutes at the Pop Goes the Fort eating contest on Fort Bliss, Texas on July 4, 2024. Justin Hamel for the NY Post 'It didn't feel right without him there. I know if he wasn't there I'd have a better shot to win, but I'd rather he'd be there than anything else,' Bertoletti said, revealing he was fresh off a video chat with his hungry rival. That doesn't mean he's not going to give Chestnut a run for his money, he warned: 'I'm a realist. But what I'm saying is, out of anyone else who has a chance to beat him?' Bertoletti admitted he was looking forward to having the heat off him if Chestnut returns, noting that he liked 'flying under the radar' throughout the last few years of competition. Advertisement 'Being a returning champ, everyone is looking at me, which is weird because I'm not used to that,' Bertoletti said. Bertoletti has been conducting miniature hot dog 'practices' several times a week — and even posted some videos of him curling packs of Nathan's dogs in preparation for the big contest. 'It's just it's not pretty. It's not interesting either. Just a lot of hot dogs,' he said of his training, adding that it's easy because he never gets tired of eating the franks. 3 Bertoletti hopes to beat his record of 58 franks, with a new goal of gobbling up at least 60. Paul Martinka While he would relish in first place, the current title holder has his eyes on setting a new personal dog record and hopes to eat at least 60 — a far cry from the world record-breaking 83 franks Chestnut gobbled up last September. After being banned from the Coney Island contest, Chestnut competed instead at the Pop Goes the Fort eating contest on Fort Bliss, where he scarfed down 57 dogs in just five minutes. Advertisement And more importantly, Bertoletti is looking forward to having fun. 'I would have never expected the reigning hot dog champion. This past year has been awesome and I'm just trying to enjoy it. I don't take myself too seriously,' he added.
