Miki Sudo Wins Eleventh Nathan’s Hot Dog Title/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Miki Sudo captured her 11th women’s title at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. She devoured 33 hot dogs and buns, despite falling short of last year’s record. Joey Chestnut returned for a shot at reclaiming his title after a contract dispute kept him out in 2024.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest Quick Looks
- Miki Sudo wins 11th Nathan’s women’s title with 33 hot dogs.
- Sudo fell short of her 2024 record of 51 dogs.
- Contest held at iconic Coney Island, NY, since 1972.
- Joey Chestnut returns after contract dispute with Nathan’s.
- Men’s champ Patrick Bertoletti defending title against Chestnut.
- Contestants dunk hot dogs in water to speed eating.
Deep Look
Miki Sudo Clinches 11th Women’s Title As Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest Thrills Coney Island Fans
NEW YORK (AP) — The iconic Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest delivered another day of dramatic competition Friday, with defending women’s champion Miki Sudo securing her 11th title in front of roaring crowds at New York’s Coney Island.
Sudo, 39, of Tampa, Florida, consumed 33 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, maintaining her reign in the women’s division despite falling well short of her own personal best. In 2024, she set a women’s record with 51 hot dogs.
“I feel like I let the fans down a little bit. I heard people in the crowd saying, ‘Go for 52,’” Sudo admitted in a post-competition interview with ESPN. “Obviously, I’m always setting my goals high, but the hot dogs weren’t cooperating. For some reason, the buns felt larger today.”
Meanwhile, the men’s division saw high anticipation with the return of legendary competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, 41, of Westfield, Indiana. Chestnut, who holds the world record for devouring 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes back in 2021, missed last year’s contest due to a contract dispute. The clash involved a deal Chestnut made with Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat company, sparking issues with Nathan’s Famous.
Chestnut clarified to The Associated Press that he’s never appeared in commercials for Impossible Foods’ vegan hot dogs, maintaining that Nathan’s remains his sole hot dog partner.
“I should have made that more clear with Nathan’s,” he said, expressing relief that the dispute had been resolved and sharing his excitement to compete again at Coney Island.
In Chestnut’s absence last year, Chicago’s Patrick Bertoletti claimed the Mustard Belt and enters this year’s competition as the defending men’s champion.
The event, dating back to 1972 in its modern form, remains one of America’s quirkiest Independence Day traditions, drawing massive crowds who don foam hot dog hats and cheer on contestants as they race the clock.
Competitors dunk their hot dogs into water to soften buns for faster consumption, creating a spectacle that’s part athletic feat, part gastronomic endurance test.
This year’s contest included 15 male competitors from diverse countries, including Australia, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Canada, and England. The women’s side featured 13 American contestants, among them a mother-daughter duo from Marysville, Washington.
In 2024, while absent from Coney Island, Chestnut staged his own challenge in El Paso, Texas, consuming 57 hot dogs in just five minutes during an exhibition event with U.S. soldiers. However, he made clear that nothing compares to battling for the Mustard Belt under the bright lights of Coney Island.
“I’m really happy to be back at Coney Island,” Chestnut said, eager to reclaim his title and extend his record of 16 Mustard Belt victories.
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