Honestly, if you walked onto the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island on any given July 4th, you’d expect the same thing every single year. The smell of salt air. The humid, sticky New York heat. And Joey "Jaws" Chestnut standing behind a mountain of meat, obliterating the competition.
But 2024 was weird. Really weird. For the first time in nearly two decades, the king wasn't there.
The Nathan's Hot Dog Championship—officially the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest—hit a massive speed bump that felt less like a sporting event and more like a corporate divorce. It basically turned the world of competitive eating upside down. You’ve probably heard bits and pieces about why it happened, but the reality is a messy mix of vegan hot dogs, exclusive contracts, and a whole lot of ego.
The Ban Heard ‘Round the World
So, why was Joey Chestnut missing? It sounds like a joke, but he got sidelined over a sponsorship with Impossible Foods. You know, the plant-based meat people. Major League Eating (MLE), the group that runs the show for Nathan’s, has some pretty strict rules about their stars representing "rival" brands.
They called it a "sponsorship dispute." Joey called it being "gutted."
Basically, Nathan's didn't want the face of their beef-heavy brand promoting a veggie alternative. It felt personal to a lot of fans. You’ve got a guy who has won 16 Mustard Belts, a man who literally holds the world record of 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes (set back in 2021), and suddenly he’s out because of a burger deal? It changed the energy of the 2024 contest. Without Chestnut, the "invincible" factor was gone.
What Really Happened on the Stage in 2024
With the GOAT out of the picture, the door swung wide open. It was anyone’s game.
📖 Related: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
Patrick Bertoletti, a Chicago native who’s been in the game for years, finally had his moment. He didn't just win; he crushed his own personal best. Bertoletti downed 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. While that’s nowhere near Chestnut's 76, it was enough to take home the Mustard Belt and the $10,000 top prize.
The leaderboard looked a bit different than usual:
- Patrick Bertoletti: 58 (Winner)
- Geoffrey Esper: 53
- James Webb: 52
On the women’s side, things were much more "business as usual," which in this sport means absolute dominance. Miki Sudo is essentially the Joey Chestnut of the women’s division. She didn't just win her 10th title; she set a new world record. She ate 51 hot dogs. Fifty-one! To put that in perspective, she out-ate almost every man in the field except the top three.
Watching Sudo is a lesson in efficiency. There’s no wasted movement. She uses the "Solomon Method"—breaking the dogs in half, stuffing them in, and then dipping the buns in water to make them a slide-friendly mush. It sounds gross. It is gross. But it’s the only way to hit those numbers.
The Return of the King in 2025
If you thought the drama ended with Bertoletti’s win, you haven't been paying attention. The 2025 Nathan's Hot Dog Championship was the ultimate "I told you so" moment.
Joey Chestnut came back.
👉 See also: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
The "ban" was lifted, or more accurately, the parties realized that the contest needs Joey just as much as Joey needs the contest. On July 4, 2025, Chestnut stepped back onto that Coney Island stage and reminded everyone why he's the undisputed heavy hitter. He didn't just win; he put up a massive 70.5 hot dogs.
It wasn't his all-time record, but it was a statement. He beat the field by nearly 20 dogs. Miki Sudo also defended her title in 2025, though she "only" managed 33 dogs that year—a significant drop from her record-breaking 51, but still enough to keep the belt.
How These People Actually Do It
Most people think this is just about being "hungry." It’s not. If you or I tried to eat 50 hot dogs, we’d be in the hospital by number 12. These athletes (and yes, MLE calls them athletes) undergo legitimate physical training.
They drink gallons of water in minutes to stretch the stomach lining. They chew massive amounts of gum to build jaw strength. They even do "capacity" training with low-calorie foods like cabbage or watermelon to expand their bellies without gaining 50 pounds of fat.
The Official Rules You Might Miss
The Nathan's Hot Dog Championship isn't just a free-for-all. There are specific rules that can make or break a performance:
- The "Dunking" Rule: You can dip the bun in water (or any non-alcoholic liquid) for up to five seconds. This helps the bread go down without sticking to the throat.
- The "Shortness of Breath" / Reversal of Fortune: This is the polite term for vomiting. If you "reverse" before the clock hits zero or during the one-minute waiting period afterward, you’re disqualified. No exceptions.
- The Chipmunking: At the buzzer, you can have your mouth full. You have 30 seconds to swallow everything. If you can’t clear it, those dogs don’t count.
- Debris: If the table is too messy or you leave too much "debris" (bun crumbs or meat chunks), the judges can dock your final count.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With This
It’s easy to dismiss this as "carnival trash," but the Nathan's Hot Dog Championship is a staple of American culture for a reason. It’s the ultimate spectacle. It’s gross, it’s impressive, and it’s deeply weird.
✨ Don't miss: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
For the fans who show up at Coney Island, it’s about the atmosphere. The Shea brothers (who run MLE) are masters of hype. They introduce the eaters like they’re gladiators entering the Colosseum. George Shea’s introductions are legendary—filled with nonsensical poetry about "the dawn of time" and "the limits of the human spirit."
But underneath the showmanship, there’s a real debate about the limits of human physiology. Scientists have actually studied Joey Chestnut. A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggested that the theoretical limit for a human might be around 83 or 84 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Joey is getting remarkably close to that ceiling.
What You Can Actually Learn From the Pros
Look, don't go out and try to eat 20 hot dogs today. Seriously. People have choked or suffered stomach ruptures trying to mimic these guys at home without the medical staff that Nathan’s keeps on-site.
However, if you want to understand the "sport" better or even improve your own speed-eating for a local pie-eating contest, here is the expert takeaway:
- Temperature matters: The pros let the dogs cool down. Hot meat slows you down; cold meat is harder to swallow. Luke-warm is the "sweet spot."
- Liquid is your friend: Never eat dry. The "dunk" is the most important innovation in the history of the contest.
- The "Hula": You’ll see eaters jumping or wiggling. This isn't just nervous energy; they are using gravity to help the food settle in the bottom of the stomach.
The Nathan's Hot Dog Championship has evolved from a small marketing stunt in 1916 into a televised juggernaut. Whether it’s the drama of a Joey Chestnut ban or the sheer physical impossibility of Miki Sudo’s records, it’s the one day a year where the world stops to watch people turn eating into an extreme sport.
If you’re planning to watch the next one, keep an eye on the "wildcard" qualifiers. The MLE circuit runs all spring, and that's where the next Patrick Bertoletti is usually hiding.
Actionable Insight: If you're interested in the "how-to" of competitive eating, start by focusing on jaw stamina through sugar-free gum rather than stomach capacity. Increasing your chewing speed is the safest way to improve your performance in any local food challenge without the risks associated with rapid stomach expansion.