Had Wurst days! Crowds flock to famous July 4th hot dog eating contest

Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest is CANCELED because of threat of lightning strikes during deluge in Coney Island – but defending champion Joey Chestnuts vows to carry on with the contest saying, ‘we’re going to do this f***er’

• Over 30,000 people flocked to Coney Island for Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 
• Women’s champion Miki Sudo romped to victory by wolfing down 39.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, six more than her nearest rival 
• But a lightning delay forced a pause while crowds waited in anticipation for competitive eating legend Joey Chestnut to vie for his sixteenth title 

A thunderstorm has brought America’s top hot dog eating contest to a screeching halt as inclement weather dampened the Fourth of July celebrations. 

Organizers of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest were faced with cancelling the men’s event for the first time in over five decades when torrential rains swept through the Bid Apple at around midday Tuesday. 

Earlier in the day, women’s champion Miki Sudo, 38, romped to victory as she captured her ninth title, steaming ahead of the pack with 39.5 hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes. 

The frustrating delay came as anticipation was building for 15-time reigning champ Joey Chestnut to take to the stage. One Twitter user said after the cancellation was announced that Chestnuts was urging other competitors to carry on unofficially. 

He was hoping to beat his world record of 76 hot dogs wolfed down in 10 minutes, while women’s champion Sudo holds the female record with 48.5. 

Torrential rains and thunderstorms brought the festivities to a screeching halt at around midday

The event was put on pause as inclement weather rolled through the Big Apple 

Reigning champion Joey Chestnut pictured backstage as the contest was delayed 

Over 30,000 people descended on Coney Island in New York to celebrate, but the festivities were paused when dark clouds rolled in at around midday. 

After the event was paused due to the storms, an attendee claimed the reigning champion announced: ‘I’m gonna get the rest of the guys out and we’re gonna do this f***er’. 

The iconic hot dog eating showdown has been taking place every year in Coney Island, near Brooklyn, New York for over five decades. 

Seen as one of the premier eating contests in America, it has been organized by the Major League Eating (MLE) organization since 1997.

Taking to the stage this year includes a fleet of past champions and special invitees from around the world, while others can qualify though preliminary contests. 

The winner receives $10,000, while second place gets $5,000 and third place gets $2,500. The men’s and women’s winners also land a huge, bedazzled wrestling-style belt. 

The annual event is a hallmark of the competitive eating scene every year, with the contest even held behind closed doors in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

A Twitter user posted that Chestnut was seen shortly after the cancelation saying: ‘I’m gonna get the rest of the guys out and we’re gonna do this f***er’

The rain didn’t dampen everyone’s Fourth of July spirits at the competition 

Adoring fans of Joey Chestnut hold up a sign with his face as dark clouds gathered at the event

The sun was out earlier in the day as thousands flocked to Coney Island for the contest 

Legendary competitive eater Miki Sudo, 38, romped to victory as she captured her ninth title 

Sudo won the women’s contest by eating 39.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes

Runner up Mayoi Ehibara put up a stern effort but fell short of victory by six hot dogs 

Competitive eater Michelle Lesco pictured on her way to winning third place at the contest

The women’s event saw ten competitors break the 10 hot dogs in 10 minutes barrier 

Sudo won handily in the women’s contest this year, eating six more hot dogs than her nearest competitor Mayoi Ebihara. 

The podium was rounded off by Kelly Lesco, who took third with 24.25 hot dogs eaten. 

After her victory, Sudo said: ’39 is a low number, I’m sorry you guys! I would not have left a partial hot dog on the table.’ 

Ahead of her historic win, Sudo revealed to DailyMail.com the insider tips and tricks that help her raze through mounds of food in minutes. 

Contestants are given 10 minutes to ingest as many Nathan’s Famous hot dogs in buns as possible

The annual event draws a huge crowd as revelers flock to see the quickest eaters in the world

The annual competition sees contestants given 10 minutes to ingest as many Nathan’s Famous hot dogs in buns as possible. 

Other rules placed on competitors to start the day include the permitting of any beverages to help aid the hot dogs on the way down. 

Each competitor is given their own judge, and a live score is running throughout the race while packed crowds are sent into a frenzy. 

Condiments are also allowed, but unsurprisingly most contestants opt not to bother. 

Although the players are often covered in hot dogs and beverages by the end of the 10 minutes, judges are able to hand down penalty cards for messy eating. 

If there is a tie at the end of the day, the eaters will be forced to get more hot dogs down to win as the contest goes to a sudden death eat-off. 

Frenzied spectators readying to party ahead of the contest on July 4, 2023

The 2023 Championship belts rest on a table during a weigh-in ceremony before the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest

Condiments are also allowed, but unsurprisingly most contestants opt not to bother

Over 30,000 people were expected to attend the annual festivities 

Revelers dressed as hot dogs standing in anticipation before the contest begins 

A man with an American flag umbrella shades himself from the sun before the competition 

Huge crowds are expected at the annual contest in Coney Island, New York 

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Contest has been held every year for over five decades 

Many in the crowd will be hoping to catch a glimpse of Joey Chestnut romping to his historic sixteenth victory at the contest. 

The 39-year-old, from Westfield, Indiana, won the Fourth of July competition for a fifteenth time in 2022 when he devoured 63 dogs in 10 minutes.

Ever since he burst onto the scene by beating legendary eater Rich LeFevre in 2005 at a deep-fried asparagus eating championship, Chestnut has dominated the sport. 

He has set 55 world records in food-related contests throughout his illustrious career, including eating 141 hard-boiled eggs in eight minutes and 32 Big Mac sandwiches in 38 minutes. 

Chestnut has landed a series of sponsorship deals to go along with his prize money, as he has become one of the most successful competitive eaters of all time. 

Last year, he told USA TODAY Sports he earned more than $500,000 and his net worth exceeds $4 million. 

Featuring on this year’s lineup alongside Joey Chestnut is women’s champion Miki Sudo, 38, who captured her ninth title. 

Joey Chestnut is the heavy favorite this year thanks to his reputation as one of the greatest competitive eaters of all time 

Chestnut is pictured with 2022 women’s champion Miki Sudo at the opening ceremony

Chestnut (left) pictured against rival eater Nick Wehry (right) at the contest’s opening ceremony on July 3, 2023

Sudo is attempting to capture her ninth title at this year’s contest 

The two World Champions face off during the weigh-in ceremony 

Joey Chestnut (left) and Miki Sudo (right) are the favorites to win this year 

This year’s contest was greeted by an opening ceremony and weigh-in for the competitors, where Chestnut and Sudo faced off to build hype for the event. 

Ahead of her bid for a ninth title, Sudo revealed to DailyMail.com how she planned overcome the competition. 

She currently holds the world record for the most hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes, with 48.5 which she set in 2020. 

I feel really calm. I feel better than any year before. I’ve done a few practices, but more importantly, I just feel like I’m in a really good place,’ Miki, who is ranked third overall in Major League Eating, said.

‘[I’ve] been really mindful of what I’ve been eating, how I’ve been resting… spent some time in the gym.

‘I’ve gone back and watched some footage and I think I’ve tweaked a few things to have a really strong performance this year.

‘So, it’s just 11 days to go, I think I’m going to try to do one more practice or do a half practice just to really get that technique dialed in and… it should be a high performance, a high number this year.’

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