Introduction
Competitive eating contests have been around for over a century, with the first recorded event being held at the Coney Island amusement park in Brooklyn, New York in 1916. Hot dog eating contests specifically began gaining popularity in the 1970s. The Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest held annually on July 4th at Coney Island became the highest profile competitive eating event, reaching national TV audiences. From humble beginnings with just a few participants, the Nathan’s contest grew into a major spectacle with metric tons of dogs served to crowds of thousands each year. Joey Chestnut emerged as the dominant force in competitive eating in the late 2000s, setting new world records at the Nathan’s contest and out-eating the previous champions. He has held the Nathan’s title continuously since 2007, advancing the sport to new levels of interest and competitiveness.
Joey Chestnut
Joseph Christian “Joey” Chestnut was born on November 25, 1983, in Vallejo, California. He developed an appetite for competition early in life, entering eating contests as a child. In 2005, Chestnut entered his first Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, placing third by eating 32 hot dogs. This sparked his interest in becoming a professional competitive eater.
After losing Nathan’s in 2005, Chestnut was determined to claim the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt. He began training under the guidance of sports dietitian and former competitive eater Richard Shea. Chestnut adopted an intense training regimen to stretch his stomach capacity. He drank large amounts of water and milk to expand his stomach. He also ate lettuce to increase jaw strength and build stomach elasticity.
Leading up to contests, Chestnut goes on a liquid diet for days to make room for competition. During training, he focuses on high-protein foods like turkey, fish, and smoothies to maintain muscle mass. Before Nathan’s in 2020, Chestnut aimed for over 10,000 calories per day from foods like nuts, olive oil, protein shakes, and dark meat chicken. His extreme training and diet help maximize his eating abilities.
Major Competitive Eating Accomplishments
Joey Chestnut has dominated the world of competitive eating, setting records across numerous food categories. However, he is best known for his success in hot dog eating contests.
Chestnut has won the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 14 times, including a record streak of 8 consecutive wins from 2007 to 2014. His personal best at the Nathan’s contest is a staggering 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, set in 2020.
In addition to hot dogs, Chestnut holds world records for eating other foods in competition. He ate a record 53 soft beef tacos in 8 minutes in 2017. He also holds records for hard boiled eggs (141 in 8 minutes), chicken wings (412 in 30 minutes), and Twinkies (121 in 6 minutes).
While hot dogs are his specialty, Chestnut’s competitive eating achievements demonstrate an ability to consume massive quantities of food at world record speeds across many categories.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is the highest profile competitive eating competition in the world. It is held annually on July 4th at Nathan’s original restaurant location in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The contest first took place in 1972 and has occurred each year since then, making it the longest-running eating competition.
The contest originated from an argument between four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic. To settle the matter, they held an impromptu hot dog eating contest outside the Nathan’s restaurant. The event gained popularity over the years and eventually became a July 4th tradition organized by Major League Eating. Nathan’s donates thousands of hot dogs each year for the contest.
The rules of the contest are straightforward but intense. Each competitor has 10 minutes to eat as many full hot dogs and buns as possible. The hot dogs and buns must be eaten completely. Any regurgitation results in automatic disqualification. Only hands can be used to eat – no forks or other utensils are allowed. A cup of water is provided for each competitor to drink while eating. The contestant that consumes the most hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes is declared the winner.
The atmosphere on the day of the contest is energized and raucous. Thousands gather at the outdoor event, which includes live music, dancing, and other activities leading up to the main event. The eaters gain weight and fast for days ahead to expand their stomach capacity. Final preparations occur backstage before the eaters are introduced to the crowd. The eaters then take their positions behind a long table as the countdown begins. The competition is a grueling physical and mental test, as the eaters dip hot dogs in water, smash them between hands, and cram them down their throats. Audiences cheer wildly during the frantic 10 minutes of competition.
Chestnut’s Nathan’s Records
Joey Chestnut has dominated the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest ever since he defeated six-time defending champion Takeru Kobayashi in 2007. That year, Chestnut ate a then-record 66 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes. Kobayashi ate 63.
In 2009, Chestnut broke his own record by consuming 68 hot dogs and buns at Nathan’s. He bested that mark again in 2013 by eating 69 hot dogs and buns.
However, Chestnut’s greatest performance came in 2020 when he ate a jaw-dropping 75 hot dogs and buns, shattering his own record. This epic eat-off cemented Chestnut as the undisputed champion of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Throughout Chestnut’s reign, Kobayashi remained his fiercest rival. The two traded records back and forth from 2007 to 2010 in some of the most exciting head-to-head matchups in competitive eating history. Their rivalry pushed the limits of hot dog consumption to new heights.
While Kobayashi brought out the best in Chestnut during their competitive years, Chestnut has continued to set new records even after Kobayashi stopped competing. Chestnut’s ability to continually surpass his own numbers demonstrates why he is considered the greatest hot dog eater of all time.
Training and Preparation
Joey Chestnut is known for his intense training regimen leading up to major eating competitions like the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. He typically starts ramping up his training around 2 months before the contest.
Chestnut’s training diet consists of gradually increasing his daily calorie intake up to 10,000 calories per day. He focuses on foods like protein shakes, milk, eggs, pasta, and peanut butter. During training, Chestnut aims to expand his stomach capacity so he can consume more on game day.
In the final weeks before Nathan’s, Chestnut starts doing mock eating contests to prepare his body. He’ll eat 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes, sometimes even donning a rain poncho and dunking his head in water to simulate the hot conditions during the Coney Island contest.
Chestnut also trains his mind, practicing visualization and concentration techniques. He prepares for the discomfort he’ll experience when stretching his stomach to the extreme. According to Chestnut, the mental game and acquired skill are just as important as physical capacity when it comes to competitive eating.
Controversies
Chestnut’s competitive eating success has not been without controversy. In 2017, there were accusations that Chestnut illegally “packed his gullet” by forcing excess food into his stomach with a water technique. After a video surfaced showing Chestnut briefly putting a cup in his mouth before swallowing more hot dogs, Major League Eating conducted an investigation and found no evidence of wrongdoing. They determined that the brief water drinking was within regulations.
Other opponents have accused Chestnut of having an unfair advantage due to his natural ability to stretch his stomach and esophagus. Some critics argue that techniques like “gut training” and “jaw strength conditioning” go against the spirit of the sport. Chestnut maintains that his success comes down to hard work, strategic eating methods, and the willingness to push past the inevitable discomfort of competitive eating contests.
There have also been some objections to the inherent risk of competitive eating as a sport in general. Consuming such extreme quantities of food so quickly does carry potential health dangers. However, the risks are usually temporary and relatively minor for most competitors. Chestnut himself emphasizes moderation and preparation to stay healthy while pursuing eating endeavors.
Impact and Legacy
Joey Chestnut has had an enormous impact on the world of competitive eating. When he burst onto the scene, he shattered existing world records and took the sport to new heights. Chestnut has set numerous records that experts believe may never be broken.
His domination of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is perhaps his greatest legacy. He has won the renowned contest 14 times, far outpacing any other competitor. The 74 hot dogs he ate in 2021 is a mind-boggling figure that demonstrates his level of excellence. Some speculate that no one will ever beat Chestnut’s strap on the Mustard Belt.
Beyond the numbers, Chestnut has made competitive eating more mainstream and popular than ever before. He has gained celebrity status and often appears on TV shows, commercials and movies. The charismatic Chestnut has inspired new fans and competitors to take up the sport all over the world. While once a niche pastime, competitive eating is now a global phenomenon thanks in large part to Joey Chestnut.
Life Outside Competitive Eating
When he’s not training for eating competitions, Joey Chestnut lives a pretty normal life. He was born in Vallejo, California in 1983 and grew up in a middle class family. After high school, Chestnut briefly studied engineering at San Jose State University before dropping out to pursue competitive eating full-time.
Outside of eating competitions, Chestnut enjoys staying active and being outdoors. Some of his hobbies include hiking, camping, and playing disc golf. He also loves to travel and experience new cultures and cuisines from around the world. Food is still a major part of his life even when he’s not competing.
For work, Chestnut is an independent contractor. He makes money through appearances, endorsements, television shows, and licensing agreements. While competitive eating provides a nice income, it’s not his only focus. Chestnut has talked about eventually shifting to a more stable career, but he plans to continue eating competitively for as long as he’s able.
Chestnut maintains an active social media presence where he engages with fans and promotes his personal brand. He seems to lead a relatively low-key life outside of competitions and keeps details about his romantic relationships private. When he’s not training, Chestnut enjoys spending time with family and friends.
The Future
Joey Chestnut has firmly cemented himself as the greatest competitive eater of all time. However, at just 38 years old, Chestnut likely still has many years left in his eating career. What new records and achievements could be in store for the hot dog eating phenom?
With 13 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest wins under his belt, Chestnut will undoubtedly be looking to continue his reign of dominance at the annual 4th of July spectacle. While Chestnut has come up just short of his own world record of 75 hot dogs a few times in recent years, the competitive eating legend likely has his sights set on topping his best mark again soon. Given Chestnut’s insatiable appetite and drive to push the limits of human consumption, exceeding 75 hot dogs in 10 minutes seems well within reach.
Beyond hot dogs, Chestnut will also strive to defend his records across a wide range of foods. He currently holds impressive eating records for everything from poutine to cannoli, and he rarely goes a month without competing in a major eating event. Chestnut has even expressed interest in taking a shot at eating more than 40 pounds of cow brains, one of the few records he does not currently hold. As Chestnut continues his competitive eating journey into his late 30s and 40s, spectators can expect to see him break new barriers and astound with ever more staggering feats of consumption.
No matter the food in front of him, Joey Chestnut’s competitive fire burns as hot as ever. With his eyes on the past, present, and future, Chestnut will undoubtedly continue his push to cement himself as the unequivocal GOAT of the competitive eating world. Fans eagerly await whatever new achievements and records may come as Chestnut shows no signs of slowing down.