There’s officially a new winner of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest!
On July 4, outsider Patrick Bertoletti officially took over the title from reigning champion Joey Chestnut, who had previously been crowned winner of the annual competition 16 times. Chestnut announced on social media in June that he would not be participating in this year’s event.
“It’s time to go! Will you come with me, Brooklyn?” announcer George Shea asked the Coney Island crowd during his trademark grand introduction.
Ten minutes after Shea welcomed each contestant to the stage with some dramatic and humorous background information, the Mustard Belt was placed on the arm of a new men’s winner for the first time in eight years.
Shea raised Bertoletti’s arm in victory and held the gleaming belt above his head, marking his first career title.
According to ESPN commentators, it is the biggest competitor since 2015.
Bertoletti entered the event ranked No. 9 in the world. “Today was all focus,” he told Shea. “I wasn’t going to stop eating until the job was done.”
He later said it felt like he was a bridesmaid who finally became a bride. The competitive eater said it took him three months of practice and he couldn’t believe he had done it.
“There was an urgency. With Joey not being there, I knew I had a chance,” he shared. “I was able to unlock something. I don’t know where it came from, but I’m not complaining.”
Bertoletti called it a life-changing moment.
In the women’s division, Sudo retained her crown, bringing her total wins to 10 titles. Sudo is currently ranked as the No. 1 competitive female eater.
Fans at Coney Island watched in amazement as Bertoletti and Sudo devoured an impressive amount of hot dogs in just 10 minutes.
Bertoletti managed to eat 58, his personal best, while Sudo was not far behind with a record-breaking 51 hot dogs and buns. According to ESPN, she is now the only woman to eat more than 50 francs. She also improved her personal (and world) record of 48.5 hot dogs, which she set in 2020.
“The 50 hot dog barrier has been broken,” an ESPN announcer said in a clip uploaded to X as the clock ticked down. Another announcer wondered if Sudo could potentially compete in the men’s division in the future.
An hour after her victory, Sudo spoke about her historic achievement.
“Even after 10 years, I still have more to show,” she said. “The women’s record is only going to improve from here and there are a lot of exciting things to come.”
When asked what she wanted to eat next, she replied, “I’ll probably look for something cold and refreshing. Maybe a piece of fruit (or) soft serve ice cream.”
Sudo dominated the competition, winning the Ketchup Belt again — followed by second-place finisher Mayoi Ebihara, who ate 37 hot dogs. Ebihara was also second last year when she made her debut at the competition.
Last year, according to the American hot dog company, 35,000 spectators came to Coney Island to watch Sudo and Chestnut regain their titles. Sudo ate 39.5 hot dogs at the time, while Chestnut, the current number 1 in competitive eating, managed to devour a whopping 62 hot dogs in just 10 minutes.
While fans were excited to see this year’s winners, Chestnut’s absence from the annual event was notable. The former titleholder, who set the all-time record with 76 in 2021, said he was not allowed to compete because he was “banned” from the event after reportedly partnering with a rival Nathan’s Famous brand.
“I was very disappointed to hear today through the media that I have been eliminated from the Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest after almost 20 years,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “I am thrilled to be a part of this event, I am thrilled to celebrate America with my fans in this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title.”
In response to the competitive eater’s claims that he had been “banned,” Major League Eating (MLE) told TODAY.com in a statement that this was not true.
“There’s no ban. Major League Eating wants him there. The fans want him there. Nathan wants him there,” said Richard Shea, co-founder of MLE.
MLE also sent TODAY.com a statement that said, in part: “We are devastated that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a competing brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than participate in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.”
During the July 4 broadcast, commentators repeatedly emphasized that it was Chestnut’s “choice” not to participate this year.
Before the competition began, ESPN paid tribute to Chestnut, calling him, among other things, “the Babe Ruth of beef.” The broadcast also noted that his last win at the competition was in 2015. It went on to compare Chestnut’s breakup with Nathan’s Hot Dogs to The Beatles’ breakup.
While he didn’t make it to Nathan’s Famous, competitive eating fans can still enjoy Chestnut gobbling down hot dogs on Independence Day. Chestnut chose to compete against soldiers at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, in a five-minute hot dog eating event, which was previously reported by the Associated Press on June 27.
The annual July 4 event, called “Pop Goes the Fort,” will also include a fireworks show and performances by the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the 1st Armored Division Band.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
