Hot dog-eating champ tastes victory again

Legendary competitive eater Joey "Jaws" Chestnut wolfed down a record 70 hot dogs - buns and all - in just 10 minutes on Monday to reclaim his crown at an annual New York competition.

Chestnut's gastric feat at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island marked a return to form for the 32-year-old Californian, who saw his eight-year winning streak broken by challenger Matt "Megatoad" Stonie in 2015.

This year, the 24-year-old Stonie fell short, managing just 53 frankfurters to come in second.

The women's contest was won for the third time by Miki Sudo, 30, who chomped down 38.5 dogs.

Held by one of America's best-known wiener purveyors, the competition supposedly dates back 100 years.

It is held annually on the July Fourth holiday, and pushes America's love of Independence Day hot dogs to a stomach-churning extreme.

Competitors slide franks into their gullets while drenching the buns in water to make them easier to swallow, then wriggle around to help the meaty mouthfuls descend into their stomachs.

Chestnut trains regularly, often eating between 35 to 70 wieners at a time, as well as drinking copious amounts of water to maintain his stomach's stretchiness.

He broke his own competition record of 69 hot dogs, dating back to 2013. On June 25, he managed 73.5 dogs during a qualifying round.

Anyone who vomits is disqualified.

Thousands come to watch the competition, broadcast by national sports network ESPN. This year's total prize purse amounted to $40,000.

Among Chestnut's curious eating accomplishments: In 2015, he ate 205 chicken wings in just 12 minutes

(China Daily 07/06/2016 page12)