Takeru Kobayashi Sets World Record With 69 Hot Dogs, Joey Chestnut Wins 2011 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest

Takeru Kobayashi has regained the title of the world's greatest hot dog eater -- but this time it comes with an asterisk.

Joey Chestnut once again won the Mustard Belt at the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Brooklyn, N.Y., but eating in exile on a rooftop in Manhattan, Kobayashi managed to put away a world record of 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes to Chesnut's 62.

After Kobayashi's camp and the organizers of the July 4 hot dog eating contest failed to reconcile their differences following a contract dispute and the eater's arrest at last year's contest, the six-time Nathan's champ took to the bar 230 FIFTH for an unsanctioned eating expo overseen by New York State Athletic Association judges Brian Adams and Tyrone Jackson.

And he made history, beating Chestnut's 2009 record by a single HDB (hot dog and bun) and Chestnut's 2011 showing by seven HDBs.

SEE THE ACTION IN CONEY ISLAND:

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• Joey Chestnut Wins Again

  Joey "Jaws" Chestnut cemented his competitive eating legacy by winning his fifth straight Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 4, 2011. The San Jose, Calif. native ate 62 HDBs (hot dogs and buns) -- six short of his 2009 record.

• Chestnut Gets A Hero's Welcome

  When Chestnut took the stage in Brooklyn's Coney Island neighborhood just before the contest, the crowd went wild. He has not lost the Mustard Belt since his first victory against the seemingly unbeatable Takeru Kobayashi in 2007.

• Bertoletti Takes Second

  Chestnut faced fierce competition from Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti (left, with the mohawk), who finished with 55 HBDs (hot dogs and buns). Tim "Eater X" Janus (right with the paint on his face), came in third with 45 HDBs.

• Women's Contest

  The 2011 contest might be remembered as the year when Takeru Kobayashi won -- from afar. But it was also an historic event thanks to the first-ever women-only hot dog eating competition. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas (center) took first prize with 40 HDBs, while Juliet Lee (left) and Stephanie Torres (right) came in second with 29.5 HDBs and third with 28.5 HDBs, respectively.

• Thomas Tastes Victory

  Thomas has been a dominant figure in competitive eating for years -- but she never took home the Mustard Belt. That all changed in women-only contest in 2011. After her victory, Thomas hopped onto the shoulders of competitive eater Eric "Badlands" Booker and took a victory lap in the crowd.

• To The Victors Go The Spoils

  Chestnut and Thomas enjoy their day in the sun in Coney Island. Both left the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest as champions -- and the proud winners of $10,000 in prize money.

In Coney Island, Chestnut relished in his 62-dog performance, unaware that Kobayashi had regained the world record in the unofficial event. He stated afterward that he was "feeling good."

The San Jose, Calif., native, fittingly known as "Jaws," started fast and hardly slowed at the Brooklyn event. Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti nearly kept pace, finishing with an impressive 55 HDBs. Third place finisher Tim "Eater X" Janus consumed 45 HDBs.

When informed of Kobayashi's historic performance, Major League Eating president and hot dog contest master of ceremonies George Shea called it a "farce."

"The champion of the world is crowned in Coney Island. Always has been, always will be," said Shea. "[Kobayashi] put a tin crown on his head and called himself king."

While the win in Coney Island further cements Chestnut's competitive eating legacy as one of dominance, Kobayashi's new world record makes it clear that the man known as "The Tsunami" isn't past his prime.

Kobayashi emerged on the competitive eating circuit a decade ago, winning six straight Nathan's Famous contests and earning a reputation as unbeatable. That is, until Chestnut took the Mustard Belt in 2007, winning in consecutive years with 66, 59, 68, 54, and now, 62 HDBs.

On the stage in Coney Island, Chestnut appeared dominant, with Bertoletti presenting his only real challenger. Tai Loi Mak, Lu Ming Kui and Yat Ming Lam -- the first challengers from China who have ever taken part in the hot dog event -- struggled against top tier gluttons. Tim "Gravy" Brown was disqualified after a "reversal of fortune."

Sixteen miles away, Kobayashi stood aside a 12-foot screen, which aired the ESPN coverage. The Japanse champ entered just before Chestnut was announced. He quickly jumped to a lead, and was finishing his 30th dog before Chestnut had downed his 24th.

"I am so happy I got this chance," Kobayshi told a packed house at the rooftop garden bar at 230 Fifth, slamming both fists on the table triumphantly, and thanking club owner Steven Greenberg for making the event happen.

"I watched the Coney Island event last year, and immediately after the police incident I contacted Koby's attorney," Greenberg said. "We thought the public deserved to see him compete."

Kobayashi told AOL Weird News that Major League Eating representatives contacted him before the event, but they refused to drop their demand that he sign a restrictive contract for the right to compete at Coney Island.

"I want to remain free to compete in the events that I want to compete in," Kobayashi said. "Today was a great success."

In the first-ever women-only contest, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas took home the $10,000 prize with 40 HDBs -- one fewer than her personal record of 41 HDBs.

After the competition, Thomas hopped onto competitive eater Eric "Badlands" Booker's shoulders and marched into the crowd, carrying flowers and her pink-colored Mustard Belt over her head.

Second place finisher Juliet Lee consumed 29.5 HDBs and said she struggled to concentrate while dining on competitive eating's biggest stage.

"I didn't focus -- too many things on my mind," said Lee, who noted that she was thinking of her daughter in China throughout the contest.

Rookie Stephanie Torres surprised the crowd with 28.5 HDBs, an impressive debut that earned her a third place finish.

Comments

[mystshy]

03:28 PM on 07/05/2011

PLEASE DONT COVER THIS CRAP.......................

[bklynnupe]

02:23 PM on 07/05/2011

I wonder what they use to simulate hot dog eating during practice sessions?

[bart4u]

01:42 PM on 07/05/2011

Thus is not a sport so why is it in the sports section. It belongs in the entertainment section.

[Pete Wood]

12:41 PM on 07/05/2011

Why all the arguing. There are two separate points here..1. Nathans contest. 2. The world record. If Chehestnut wants the record he can try. Same goes for Koby and Nathans...Just sign

[NYCKitty]

10:43 AM on 07/05/2011

There is something very disturbing about these food eating contests. What is the point of stuffing 69 hot dogs into your gob? It makes me sick when this contest rolls around every year - those who partake in these sick "contests" really need their heads examined.

[philaphillies99]

11:08 AM on 07/05/2011

Then dont watch it if it makes you "sick". People are having fun. Stop whining.

[thomasproper]

10:33 AM on 07/05/2011

Just like athletics, agents and organizations screwing up fun things like this event. There is no clear way to determine now who was the best this year. The only true test is when they are side by side eating. They are the creme de la creme of binge eating and only when these two compete together is their a world class event. Get rid of the money sucking middle men and let them compete as before.

[JacksonHts]

12:57 AM on 07/06/2011

The creme de la creme of binge eating? Bob Arum and Don King need to set up a competing federation to the MLE. People in other countries who consume excessive quantities of their own country food need to be able to compete for the title of creme de la creme of binge eating.....

[Inspiringangela]

09:57 AM on 07/05/2011

Takeru Kobayashi wants to participate in the eating events HE chooses, but since MLE runs the Nathan's contest and most major eating contests around the world, Kobayashi can't participate in any of them unless he enters into the contract demanded by MLE, and of course, subsequently joins the Union of MLE employees. He is essentially shut out of professional eating contests around the world. People who want to try their hand at these eating contests should know before hand they are competing against professional, legally contracted eaters. Gee, where is the fun in that? As for Kobayashi, he is screwed either way. If he doesn't contract with MLE, he can't participate in eating contests. If he gets himself in the Guinness Book of World Records, he can forget ever getting a contract with MLE. For me, all the underhanded coercion and dirty pool permeating eating contests takes the elements of fun and competition out of them. Why would people want to watch or participate in a hot dog eating contest that is essentially rigged in favor of MLE employees?

[walkinthedogdude]

09:54 AM on 07/05/2011

Here's the thing: I had already planned on eating two Nathans dogs for lunch yesterday when I learned on ESPN radio while drivng to complete an errand that the contest was over. When I got home, however, and craving (they are the best, no doubt) my Nathans doggies, I turn on the TV to ESPN and they're just starting the broadcast of the competition. I quickly switched channels. Nathans hot dogs to me are a meal worth savoring. They are not meant to be stuffed and gulped down. It's like eating a steak at Mortons. You don't wolf that down. I know this was a competition and in the world of ESPN it is as important as the NBA championship game.

[cfern]

09:44 AM on 07/05/2011

Kobayashi is clearly the king of competitive hot dog eating. The tyrannical stance of Major League Eating president and hot dog contest master of ceremonies George Shea can not change that. Joey Chestnut's fifth consecutive win will carry a rather sizable asterisk.

[Tom uws]

09:16 AM on 07/05/2011

I ate 70 hot dogs at my house at the same time and 2 of my friends who are high school umpires witnessed it. I am the world record holder!

[truposer]

10:46 AM on 07/05/2011

Hail to the king!

[O K Ali]

12:00 PM on 07/07/2011

Video or it don't count.

[misterrobsir]

09:05 AM on 07/05/2011

I can't believe that there is an actual contest about eating hot dogs and what even more remarkable is people is taking this gluttonous event seriously......Yes America we are scraping the bottom of the barrell now.

[ms04121966]

08:02 AM on 07/05/2011

contracts??????????????? it's an annual hot dog eating contest, not an actual sport. the world is insane. what happened to having fun?

[yoozum]

09:07 AM on 07/05/2011

Who's to say they're not having fun scarfing down 60+ hotdogs, or HDB's as they call them.

[blfintommy]

07:55 AM on 07/05/2011

How anybody can actually eat a Nathan's hot dog is beyond me. I guess Chicago people are spoiled with our Vienna hot dogs.

[ms04121966]

08:04 AM on 07/05/2011

Everyone with sense knows Nathan's hot dogs are the best!!!!

[blfintommy]

08:46 AM on 07/05/2011

East Coast- no taste - lousy pizzas, rotten hot dogs, crummy comments

[Ziggy1982]

08:54 AM on 07/05/2011

Uhhh. No!

[TSRVT]

09:21 AM on 07/05/2011

Chicago 'pizza' is just a pan full of gook that bears absolutely no resemblance to real pizza (btw, NY style pizza is garbage too). Try VT Flatbread pizza if you want the good stuff. As for hot dogs, they are just a tube full of fat. Nathans aren't my favorite but they aren't bad. The Vienna dogs in Chicago just don't so it for me. McKenzie's natural casing franks are the best, IMO.

[YLS2007]

07:51 AM on 07/05/2011

And here I was starting to really believe in American exceptionalism again, and this Japanese guy bursts my bubble. Ohhhh the humanity........

[Sunny California]

07:33 AM on 07/05/2011

I read some of the terms of the MLE contract and I wonder, why would anyone want to sign something like? I don't blame Kobayashi.