Legendary professional eater Joey Chestnut is back competing in the sports’ biggest event – the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The Fourth of July tradition, which emanates every year from Brooklyn, New York, has welcomed arguably the best competitive eater ever back into the fold after a one-year ban.
Chestnut’s partnership with Impossible Foods was the reasoning for the 41-year-old’s ban from the competition.
Now, bridges have been mended as Chestnut announced his return to the Coney Island classic.
‘I’m thrilled to be returning to the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life,’ Chestnut said on X.
‘While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathan’s is the only hot dog company I’ve ever worked with.’
Legendary professional eater Joey Chestnut is back competing in the sports’ biggest event
Chestnut is returning to the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest as a 16-timeevent winner
‘I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I’m grateful we’ve been able to find common ground. I’m excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! Stay hungry!’
Since 2007, Chestnut has won every Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest but two – last year’s edition where he was not in the field and in 2015, where he was defeated by Matt Stonie.
Chestnut’s greatest rival is considered to be Takeru Kobayashi, despite the Japanese legend not competing in the event since 2010.
The duo faced off for a final time on Netflix last year in a hot-dog eating competition, when Chestnut out-dogged Kobayashi 83-66.
Last year’s champion was Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 58 hot dogs in the 10 allotted minutes.
