competitive eating

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Joey Chestnut (right) holds a gold belt after winning the Fort Bliss hot dog contest, as the Impossible Foods CEO holds a giant check onstage.

Joey Chestnut (right) won a hot dog-eating contest against soldiers at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, on Thursday, with Impossible Foods pledging to donate $1,000 in support of military families for each hot dog downed. Impossible Foods hide caption

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Impossible Foods

National

Joey Chestnut, banned from Coney Island, takes his hot dog-eating skills to Fort Bliss

July 5, 2024 • Chestnut ate 57 hot dogs in five minutes, beating a team of four soldiers who downed 49 total. He not only broke his own record, but nearly tied the Coney Island winner, who ate 58 dogs in 10 minutes.

Joey Chestnut (L) and Takeru Kobayashi (R) compete in the Nathan's hot dog-eating contest on July 4, 2009, in New York. Craig Ruttle/AP hide caption

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Craig Ruttle/AP

Pop Culture

The biggest rivals in hot dog-eating are headed for a rematch 15 years in the making

June 13, 2024 • Rivals Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi will reunite in September for their first hot dog-eating competition in 15 years. Here's why the competitors and their fans are so hungry for a rematch.

Joey Chestnut holds a trophy and mustard belt after winning the 2022 Nathan's Famous hot dog-eating contest.

Joey Chestnut emerges victorious after eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes during the 2022 Nathans Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City. Kena Betancur/Getty Images hide caption

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Kena Betancur/Getty Images

National

Hot dog-eating champ Joey Chestnut won't compete this July 4. What’s the beef?

June 12, 2024 • The 16-time reigning champion lost his spot in this year's competition after signing an endorsement deal with a company that makes plant-based hot dogs, potentially clearing the way for an underdog.

Nathan's hot-dog eating contest bans Joey Chestnut over Impossible deal

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Olympic-Sized Appetites: The World Of Competitive Eating

Five-time reigning champion Joey Chestnut, second from left, competes in Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating World Championship on July 4 this year. John Minchillo/AP hide caption

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John Minchillo/AP

The Salt

Olympic-Sized Appetites: The World Of Competitive Eating

CapRadio News

August 1, 2012 • Some argue competitive eating has all the markings of an Olympic sport — star players, corporate sponsorships, even ESPN coverage. But there have been no official bites yet.