New York (eCanadaNow) - Californian Joey Chestnut was crowned the new champion of competitive eating Wednesday, downing 66 hotdogs in 12 minutes to take the title from Japan's long-dominant Takeru Kobayashi.
The 23-year-old champion beat Kobayashi, 29, by just three hotdogs at the traditional Independence Day event hosted by hotdog vendor Nathan's on New York's Coney Island.
The Japanese favourite had won the title six times in a row, but a jaw injury at first threatened to keep him from this year's competition. He was still able to compete and blow through a world- record, but it was not enough to remain on top.
About 30,000 people took part in the festivities, watching about 20 people stuff their faces as hotdogs and buns appeared simply to disintegrate.
Participates have 12 minutes to eat as many hotdogs and their rolls as possible. In order to help the bread go down, competitors are allowed to dunk the rolls in water to make them softer and can drink throughout the event.
Although competitors stuff themselves, bigger competitors don't always have the advantage. The tall and lean-looking Chestnut weighs 97 kilogrammes, and Kobayashi tips the scales at just 70 kilogrammes.
In 2006, Kobayashi set a world record at the event, eating 53 3/4 of the sausages.
The competition dates to July 4, 1916, when legend has it that four immigrants at the famed hotdog stand argued about who was the most patriotic and decided to settle the matter with an eating contest. The winner of the first competition could eat only 13 hotdogs.
Today, participants must take part in a series of regional competitions to be cheered on by a thrilled crowd on Independence Day.
