Unbeatable? The 'hot dog king' devours 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

The so-called "hot dog king," Joey Chestnut, devoured 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes on Friday , regaining his champion status in his long-awaited return to the traditional Nathan's Hot Dog Contest in New York on July 4th.

Chestnut, 41, was treated like a sports star upon his arrival at Nathan's on Coney Island, where he held the "mustard belt" for 16 years until it was banned in 2024 for a collaboration with a vegan brand. See more: Have you heard of them? Some innovative apps powered by AI.

Eating contests are common in the United States and are even considered a "sport," with their own league called the Major League of Eating (MLE) and broadcasts of competitions like this one at Nathan's, which has been held for over a century, on specialized channels such as ESPN.

Chestnut has been the world leader in the hot dog category since 2021, when he devoured 76 in 10 minutes, but this year he shattered that record in a Netflix special , not subject to regulations, in which he gobbled down 83 in that same time period.

See more: Have you heard of them yet? Some innovative apps powered by AI His fans, who greeted him today with shouts and signs, had to settle for watching him swallow 70 and a half hot dogs , a task he performed diligently without interruption (one year, he confronted an activist while eating), and in which he outperformed around 14 opponents.

In a message X days before the celebration, Chestnut assured that Nathan's is "the only hot dog company" he works with and declared himself happy to return to the New York contest that has given him fame and money, after what he described as "differences in interpretation."

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" While I have collaborated and continue to collaborate with a variety of companies, including some plant-based ones , those relationships have never conflicted with my love of hot dogs," the competitor said, referring to his partnership with vegan brand Impossible Foods.

Last year's winner, Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 46 and a half hot dogs today, sportingly accepted his defeat to the eminence: " I never thought I'd win the Nathan's contest, but it didn't feel complete without Joey, so this year that he's back is even better ," he told the media.

Women's champion Miki Sudo, who last year became the first woman to down 50 hot dogs in 10 minutes, today stopped at 33 and, although she retained her title, regretted "disappointing the fans."

See more: If you quit smoking, this would be the time you need to cleanse your body Chestnut, also known as 'Jaws', is more than the 'hot dog king': according to the MLE league, he has accumulated milestones in fifty food "disciplines" , such as croquettes (185 in 8 minutes), tacos (126 in 8 minutes) and apple pies (more than 4 in 8 minutes).

In today's contest, he pocketed $10,000, but aside from the cash prize, he's also gained significant exposure, which can help him land lucrative advertising contracts: in his case, he earns around $500,000 a year thanks to his gluttony, according to specialized media.

EFE