With the controversial absence of its king, Joey Chestnut, the competitive eating world turned its eyes to Coney Island, where an open field of competitors aimed to usurp the crown at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. After 10 minutes of scarfing hot dogs, a new men’s champion emerged — Patrick Bertoletti. With mouth agape and stomach expanded, Bertoletti devoured 58 hot dogs to capture the Yellow Mustard Belt, outlasting 13 competitors.
For the first time in eight years, a new men’s champion was crowned. Bertoletti, a Chicago native, returned to the event as the No. 9 ranked eater in the world.
In his sixth appearance, he surpassed his personal best total of 55. “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride,” Bertoletti said on ESPN2 after the competition. “Today, I’m getting married.
” The silver went to Geoffrey Esper, the favorite going into the event, who ate 53 hot dogs, while James Webb of Australia secured third place with 52 dogs consumed. “I just can’t believe it. I always finished second or third, and this is big,” Bertoletti said.
“With Joey not here, I knew I had a shot. I unlocked something inside me that I don’t know where it came from, but I’m not complaining.” On the women’s side, the new potential face of competitive eating emerged as Miki Sudo, the reigning queen of the event, set a new women’s world record by downing 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
She clinched her 10th Pink Belt in historic fashion, beating her.
