It’s official: Americans rule the world at eating – Asylum UK | For All Mankind
It was one of the sporting world’s greatest finals. Two perfectly matched gladiators facing each other down on the biggest stage of their career.
No, not the tennis. (Although that was good too.) The world hot-dog eating contest on Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY, where all-American hero Joey Chestnut shovelled his way to victory on July 4th.
The 24-year-old Chestnut was facing his long-time competitive eating nemesis, Japanese former-champion Takeru Kobayashi, and tensions were high. Several thousand spectators turned out to watch the contest, which was televised on American news channels around the country.
Chestnut ate harder and faster than ever before, but after swallowing 59 hot-dogs in 10 minues, both he and Kobayashi were tied for the championship. In the end it all came down to a 5 hot-dog deathmatch tie-break, in which Chestnut (just) came out on top.
“I knew I’d be able to do it and push through the pain,” he told the crowd. “I was pushed by the audience. I love you New York.”
To celebrate America’s victory, here is a gallery of the world’s greatest competitive eating photography. How long before this is featured at the Olympics?