Chestnut retains hot dog-eating crown

Published: July 4, 2009 at 3:17 PM

NEW YORK, July 4 (UPI) -- Defending Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion Joey Chestnut says he practiced hard to successfully retain his crown Saturday in New York.

The 25-year-old told the New York Daily News he went into the annual Fourth of July competition in Coney Island confident he would repeat as the hot dog-eating champion of the world.

"I've been practicing hard," Chestnut said wolfing down a personal high with 68 hot dogs. "I knew it would be hard to beat me."

Chestnut said despite going against six-time titleholder Takeru (Tsunami) Kobayashi, he felt comfortable after consuming 23 hot dogs in the event's first two minutes.

"After the second minute I knew my body was cooperating," said the 218-pound winner, who earned the event's Mustard Belt award and $20,000 prize.

The Daily News said Chestnut's victory at the 94th annual contest came a year after he narrowly defeated Kobayashi in the competitive eating contest.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
NFL: Cincinnati 17, Baltimore 7 (41 min)
NFL: Tampa Bay 38, Green Bay 28
NFL: Indianapolis 20, Houston 17
NFL: New England 27, Miami 17
Medical marijuana debate increases
Companies have cash but no confidence
NFL: Jacksonville 24, Kansas City 21
fark
American cities on verge of rat invasion
Remember that boy who fled chemotherapy due to his religious beliefs? He's now free of cancer. Thank...
Put down the beer and step away from the stove
Today's "Man steals car to get to his arraignment on car theft charges. " brought to you by California...
Man steals 72 cans of Red Bull, for that "running away from the cops" speed
"Snood" to be hot new fashion accesory this Christmas. The skort called; said it was thankful that...