Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, a long-running Independence Day tradition in the United States, was held in Coney Island as competitors battled sweltering, humid conditions that appeared to affect overall performance.
In the men's event, Joey Chestnut, the 42-year-old eating champion from Indiana known by the nickname "Jaws," successfully defended his title by consuming 66 hot dogs in 10 minutes. The victory marked his 18th championship, though his total fell short of 70.5 last year and did not approach his personal best of 76.
Chestnut said he felt confident early on that he would win but acknowledged that breaking records was unlikely under the day's weather conditions. He noted that the heat and humidity slowed his pace.
The women's contest also saw a repeat champion, with Miki Sudo of New York eating 38.75 hot dogs in 10 minutes to secure her 12th title. While she improved on last year's 33, she remained well below her peak performance of 51 in 2024.
First launched in 1972, the Coney Island contest continues to draw large crowds, with spectators turning out again this year despite the summer heat to witness the latest champions crowned.
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