The 97th International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island is a Fourth of July competition that has a “sporting event atmosphere”, even though it is not an athletic competition.
Joey Chestnut took home $10,000 and a mustard yellow belt for eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minute
s – six better than last year. The nearest rival trailed by 16 franks, or about three packages.
Some interesting trivia about the event includes:
• Chestnut is not a big man. He is 6’0″ tall and a toned 200+ pounds.
• His consumption of 68 franks was equivalent to 20,000+ calories and enough salt to choke a horse.
• The AMA has released a statement opposing competitive eating contests – because they are harmful to the human body. (Hopefully they don’t watch professional football.)
• An animal rights group protested the event, displaying a 10 foot long inflatable puppy inside a hot dog bun. The puppy was topped with ketchup, mustard, cheese, and lettuce. Adjacent to the “hot dog” was a piglet and a sign that said, “Why Love One but Eat the Other?”
This was the second year that a women’s event was held. Sonya Thomas, aka the Black Widow, was the repeat champion. She downed 45 dogs and was rewarded with $10,000 and the pink champion’s belt. She plans to eat 46 franks next year in honor of her 46th birthday.