Joey Chestnut Returns to Glory with 17th Win at Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest
So, the Fourth of July just got a whole lot more American with the return of Joey Chestnut to Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest—and let me tell you, the man didn’t just show up, he devoured the competition. After missing last year’s event due to a contract dispute, Chestnut made an epic comeback on Coney Island and slammed down 70.5 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. That's right—seventy and a half. No, he didn’t break his own insane world record of 76, but this was still enough to secure his 17th Mustard Belt in 20 appearances. Unbelievable.
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For those of you who don’t follow competitive eating (and honestly, you should), Chestnut missed the 2024 contest after signing with Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat brand, which clashed with Nathan’s traditional hot dog sponsors. It was a whole thing. But this year, he's back—and clearly, he hasn’t missed a beat. He faced off against 14 other eaters from around the globe, including competitors from Australia, Brazil, the UK, and even Ontario, Canada. But no one came close. The crowd, decked out in foam hot dog hats and fueled by patriotism and probably sunscreen, was loving every second of it.
Meanwhile, in the women’s division, Miki Sudo continued her reign as queen of the contest, grabbing her 11th title by eating 33 hot dogs . Not quite her personal best of 51 from last year, but still more than enough to dominate the field. Sudo mentioned to ESPN that the buns felt heavier this time, and honestly, who among us hasn’t been betrayed by bread? But in classic champion style, she shrugged it off and walked away with another win and a cool $10,000 prize.
This contest isn’t just about absurd eating feats—it’s a tradition that goes back to 1972 at its current iconic location outside the original Nathan’s in Coney Island. And for many, it’s a bizarre yet beloved symbol of American culture. Joey Chestnut himself described it as “a cherished tradition” and said he was thrilled to be back. Last year, even though he missed the main contest, he still honored the spirit of the event by eating 57 dogs in just 5 minutes during a military exhibition at Fort Bliss. This year though, he was right where he belonged.
Honestly, the sheer spectacle of this event never gets old. It’s weird, it’s wild, and it’s strangely inspiring. Joey Chestnut is now essentially the Tom Brady of competitive eating—and at 41 years old, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Whether you're a fan of hot dogs or just love an underdog (or in this case, overdog) comeback story, this year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest gave us all something to cheer about.
Long live the mustard belt.
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