Kobayashi 69 Hot Dogs- Joey Chestnut polished off 62 hot dogs and buns to win the 2011 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, but may not have pulled off the greatest competitive eating feat of the day. According to the Wall Street Journal live blog of both competitions, Takeru Kobayashi may have topped both Chestnut's feat on this Fourth of July and his all-time hot dog eating record. Kobayashi was competing in a sort of self-imposed exile this year.
He missed the 2010 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest after a contract dispute with Major League Eating, which runs the contest, then was jailed after a bizarre appearance at the contest itself.
But Kobayashi's skills led many to consider him the greatest competitive eater of all time, and if the report of him downing 69 hot dogs and buns today is accurate and verified as a world record it would top Chestnut's 68 hot dogs and buns consumed in the 2009 Nathan's Contest the competitive eating world may have a restoked rivalry on its hands.
He missed the 2010 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest after a contract dispute with Major League Eating, which runs the contest, then was jailed after a bizarre appearance at the contest itself.
But Kobayashi's skills led many to consider him the greatest competitive eater of all time, and if the report of him downing 69 hot dogs and buns today is accurate and verified as a world record it would top Chestnut's 68 hot dogs and buns consumed in the 2009 Nathan's Contest the competitive eating world may have a restoked rivalry on its hands.
