NEW YORK – It’s the beginning of a new era at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Chicago’s Patrick Bertoletti won the men’s division with 58 hot dogs and buns.
For the first time in years, the men’s competition stood wide openof Joey Chestnut is not participating.
The competition was fierce from the start, even though Chestnut was absent.
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Bertoletti, the #9 ranked eater in the world by Major League Eating, took an early lead, followed closely by Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, Massachusetts, and Nick Wehry of Tampa, Florida. James Webb of Australia briefly took the lead midway through the competition. Bertoletti came back and held the lead until the end.
Esper was third with 53. Webb was third with 52.
View the full list of male and female participants.
Why Joey Chestnut Didn’t Compete This Year
Chestnut, the 16-time champion, did not appear this year due to his partnership with a rival company that makes plant-based hot dogs. Instead, he will appear at Fort Bliss in Texas this year, where he will compete against four military personnel at 5 p.m. ET.
Chestnut holds the record, breaking the record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021.
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Miki Sudo sets new record in women’s division
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.
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Sudo, 38, has won every year since 2014, except 2021, when she was absent due to pregnancy. Her previous personal best was 48.5 hot dogs and buns, which she broke this year with 51.
Sudo successfully defended her title for the tenth time. As Major League Eating’s highest-ranked female eater in the world, Sudo held off a stiff challenge from Mayoi Ebihara of Japan, who ate 37.
Sudo thanked Ebihara for “pushing so much”.
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Sudo said she “got emotional” and “really wanted to win.”
Sudo is married to fellow competitor Nicholas Wehry. At 51, she has now surpassed his total of 48.
Michelle Lesco took third place in the women’s division with 23 hot dogs and buns.
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Thousands of spectators attended the annual spectacle at Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant on Surf and Stillwell Avenues. The show also included dance and music performances.
The tradition of July 4 dates back to 1916.
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In addition to winning the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt, there is a cash prize of $20,000 to be won.
During Thursday’s event, Eric “Badlands” Booker set a new record in the Nathan’s Lemonade Chugging competition by downing a gallon of lemonade in 21 seconds.
And as tradition dictates, Nathan’s Famous is donating 100,000 hot dogs to the New York City Food Bank.
