Patrick Bertoletti Wins Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest!
Chicago's Patrick Bertoletti devours 58 hot dogs to claim his first ever championship title at the iconic Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.
Bertoletti Takes Home Mustard Belt in Tight Competition
The 39-year-old Bertoletti battled it out for 10 minutes against 13 other international competitors, constantly trading the lead before ultimately emerging victorious. This win marks the first time since 2015 that someone other than Joey "Jaws" Chestnut has been crowned champion.
Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago wins his first men’s title at annual Nathan’s hot dog eating contest https://t.co/dtCdNxGSIz
— WAVE (@wave3news) July 4, 2024
Source: Twitter/WAVE
"I wasn't going to stop eating until the job was done," Bertoletti declared after his win. He revealed dedicating the last three months to intense training, including weight loss and strategic practice, fueled by the belief he had a real shot at winning this year.
"With Joey not here, I knew I had a shot," Bertoletti said. "I dug deep and found something I can't quite explain, but hey, I'm not complaining!"
Dominant Sudo Secures 10th Title in Women’s Division
Earlier on Thursday, Miki Sudo from Florida secured a remarkable 10th consecutive championship title in the women's division. Sudo devoured a record-breaking 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes, surpassing her previous best of 39 ½ hot dogs set in 2023.
Sudo faced off against 13 competitors, including her long-time rival, 28-year-old Mayoi Ebihara from Japan, who secured second place with 37 hot dogs. This outcome mirrors the results from the 2023 competition.
Fans Flock to Coney Island Despite Chestnut’s Absence
Despite the absence of the legendary Joey Chestnut, thousands of fans sporting their foam hot dog hats gathered at the original Nathan's location in Brooklyn's Coney Island.
Rich Shea, CEO of Major League Eating, the organization behind the event, addressed the crowd during an ESPN broadcast, acknowledging the strong turnout.
"He's a fantastic competitor and a great individual," Shea said of Chestnut. "He's made the decision not to be here today. Luckily for us, tens of thousands are flocking to Nathan's Famous. This event is a yearly pilgrimage, not a staged crowd. This is genuine excitement."
Global Competition Heats Up at Nathan’s Famous
The Nathan's Famous contest continues to draw international attention, with participants this year traveling from over a dozen states and five continents.
Competitors from Brazil, Japan, the UK, South Korea, Australia, and the Czech Republic all vied for the prestigious title and a $10,000 cash prize.
“Jaws” Absent Due to Sponsorship Dispute
Joey Chestnut was absent from this year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest due to a sponsorship conflict with Impossible Foods, which advertised during the event.
Initially barred from competing by Major League Eating over the sponsorship, Chestnut later had the ban reversed. However, he chose to participate in an exhibition event at Fort Bliss, El Paso, competing against four soldiers in a traditional hot dog eating challenge.
Despite not consuming Impossible Foods' vegan products, the company supported Chestnut through a YouTube livestream and promotional efforts, including aerial banners and donations to a military family support organization based on hot dogs consumed.
Patrick Bertoletti won the contest, and Miki Sudo continued her dominance, maintaining the event's status as an American tradition.
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