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Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island has officially crowned a new winner after former champion Joey Chestnut was banned from competing.
On July 4, contestants from around the world gathered in Brooklyn to eat as many hot dogs as they could in just 10 minutes. Patrick Bertoletti took home the top prize in the men's competition, while defending champion Miki Sudo reigned supreme and made history in the women's battle.
Sudo broke the previous record in the women's competition, consuming 51 hot dogs in the allotted time. This was the 10th time she has won the coveted pink belt. The Florida native bested 13 other competitors from around the world, including last year's runner-up, Mayoi Ebihara, who placed second by consuming just 37 hot dogs. Third-place contestant Michelle Lesco ate 23.5 hot dogs.
“Turning 50 is a milestone for all women and I am very excited to be a part of it,” Sudo told theThe New York Post after his victory.
As for the men, many expected Geoffrey Esper, who had come second in last year's contest, to win, but he was ultimately beaten by Bertoletti, who ate a whopping 58 hot dogs. Esper ate 53 and third-place contestant James Webb consumed 32.
This was the first time in 16 years that anyone other than Joey Chestnut won the contest. The hot dog eating champion didn't even appear on the boardwalk this year after announcing he would compete in a different hot dog competition in Fort Bliss, Texas.
On June 11, it was first announced that Chestnut, who has won the eating contest a total of 16 times, was not allowed to compete due to an agreement he has with a Nathan's competitor, Impossible Foods, which recently launched a plant-based hot dog.
“We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand selling plant-based hot dogs instead of competing in the 2024 Nathan's Famous 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” said MLE Statement he said at the time, adding that they made arrangements for Chestnut to compete in a Labor Day hot dog eating contest that would not feature any specific brand.
The statement concluded: “For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity clauses. However, it appears that Joey and his representatives have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-standing relationship. Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him in the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. We look forward to having him return when he is not representing a rival brand.”
Chestnut went on to respond to the statement in an Instagram post, stating that the rules changed this year.
“They are looking to change the rules from previous years in regards to other partners I can work with,” Chestnut stated. “Apparently, this is the basis on which they are banning me, and it does not affect the July 4 contest.”
MLE said The Independent Chestnut has never been allowed to endorse another hot dog brand. “In exchange for his fees to appear and compete, Joey agreed each year to a very simple exclusivity clause: He would not endorse or sponsor another hot dog brand,” a representative for the organization said.
“The idea that Nathan’s or MLE changed the rules this year is as ridiculous as it is absurd. What company would pay someone an appearance fee of several hundred thousand dollars and knowingly allow them to endorse a direct competitor immediately afterward?”
“Joey was not banned,” the statement continued. “Joey chose not to compete in the contest at the time he decided to make a sponsorship deal with one of Nathan’s competitors.”
