NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago’s Patrick Bertoletti downed 58 hot dogs to win his first men’s title Thursday at the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July. Hot dog eating contest.
Bertoletti won a tight 10-minute race in which the leaders changed hands. The 39-year-old beat 13 other competitors from around the world in a contest to see who could eat the most hot dogs in 10 minutes.
“I wasn’t going to stop eating until I got off work,” Bertoletti said.
Bertoletti broke the previous record of 55 hot dogs served at the event, which is held annually on Independence Day in Coney Island, New York.
The reigning men’s champion, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, did not compete in this year’s tournament. Sponsorship controversyInstead, Chestnut will compete against soldiers at a U.S. military base in El Paso later that day. Chestnut has won 16 of his last 17 competitions.
Bertoletti said he lost weight and trained for three months with a “sense of urgency” in preparation for Thursday’s competition, believing he had a chance to win.
“I knew I had a chance because Joey wasn’t around,” he said, “I got something that I don’t know where it’s coming from, but I’m not complaining.”
Early Thursday morning, defending champion Miki Sudo of Florida won her 10th title in the women’s division.
Sudo consumed 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes, setting a new world record for a woman.
“I’m happy to be able to call this my own for another year,” Sudo said after earning her 10th pink belt.
Last year, a 38-year-old dental hygiene student won the competition by eating 39 and a half hot dogs.
Sudo also beat 13 other competitors, including rival Mayoi Ebihara, 28, of Japan, who came in second place after eating 37 hot dogs in 10 minutes. She also came runner-up in 2023.
Bertoletti’s win marks the first time since 2015 that a player other than Chestnut has won the prestigious Mustard Belt.
The event draws thousands of fans each year to Coney Island, Brooklyn’s original Nathan’s store, a seaside tourist destination with amusement parks and a carnival-style summer culture.
Competitors came from more than 12 states and five continents, with promising players from Brazil, Japan, Great Britain, South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic competing for the coveted title and $10,000 prize money.
last year chestnutThe Indiana native ate 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win the title. His current record, set in 2021, is 76.
Chestnuts were originally The invitation was revoked The company pulled out of the event over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a company that specializes in plant-based meat alternatives.
Major League Eating, which puts on the Nathan’s Famous contest, later announced it had lifted the ban, but Chestnut decided to spend the holiday with military personnel anyway.
Chestnut said he would not return to the Coney Island contest without an apology.
The event, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, will feature a traditional frankfurter dish and challenge Chestnut to eat four soldiers in five minutes.
Though Chestnut won’t be eating the company’s vegan products, Impossible Foods is flying planes with its banners over Los Angeles and Miami to promote a YouTube livestream of Chestnut’s trade show, and will donate money to organizations that support military families based on how many hot dogs are eaten at the event, a spokesman said.
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Hague reported from Hartford, Connecticut.
