It is to competitive eating what Wimbledon is to tennis but yesterday a radical change to America’s biggest speed-eating tournament deprived spectators of a grudge match billed as the “ultimate gluttony smack-down”.
For the first time, Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Competition in New York held a separate event for females. It meant that the world champion, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, did not face his nemesis, Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas.
“Serena Williams didn’t have to beat Roger Federer to win Wimbledon and we don’t think Sonya Thomas should have to beat Joey Chestnut,” said George Shea, the master of ceremonies.
Two years ago Mr Chestnut, 27, devoured 68 hot dogs with buns in ten minutes — about 20,000 calories — and last year he made $225,000 (£140,000) through speed-eating. Ms Thomas has a personal best of 41 hot dogs, but she beat Mr Chestnut last September at the Buffalo Wing Festival, when she ate 181 chicken wings to his 169. Ms Thomas, 42, a rake-thin Burger King manager, won the women’s event yesterday by eating 40 hot dogs, earning her a $10,000 prize. Mr Chestnut won the men’s event with 62 hot dogs.
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