NEW YORK – Ladies and gentlemen, we have a chomp-ion.
Miki Sudo has set a new record in the women’s division at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024 with 51 hot dogs and buns.
Sudo successfully defended her title for the tenth time. The highest-ranked female eater in Major League Eating in the world, she held off a stiff challenge from Mayoi Ebihara of Japan, who ate 37.
Sudo, 38, has won every year since 2014 except 2021, when she was absent due to pregnancy. Her personal best is 48.5 hot dogs and buns.
Michelle Lesco came in third with 23 hot dogs and buns.
Before the match, Sudo said she was keeping an eye on Ebihara.
“Mayoi Ebihara is going to push me. From what she says, she’s going to do 50,” Sudo said. “Not an easy number to trip over.”
The tradition of July 4 dates back to 1916.
In addition to winning the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt, participants compete for a $20,000 cash prize. The women’s competition, with 14 participants, began at 10:45 a.m.
The men’s competition, with 15 participants, will take place at 12:00
The men’s division will crown a new champion
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For the first time in years, the men’s competition is wide openof Joey Chestnut is not participatingThe 16-time reigning champion will not appear this year due to his partnership with a rival plant-based hot dog company. Chestnut holds the all-time record, which he set in 2021 by eating 76 hot dogs and buns. He will instead appear at Fort Bliss in Texas on Thursday, where he will compete against four military personnel at 5 p.m.
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View the full list of male and female participants.
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Thousands are expected to attend the annual extravaganza at Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant at Surf and Stillwell Avenues. The show will feature musical performances, including a promised rap battle between Major League Eating’s George Shea and Eric “Badlands” Booker.
And as tradition dictates, Nathan’s Famous is donating 100,000 hot dogs to the New York City Food Bank.