Everything to know about the 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

The world’s top competitive eaters are back in Brooklyn for the Fourth of July as champs Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo look to defend their titles during the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Chestnut, better known as “Jaws,” is looking to shatter his 2021 record of 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes during the men’s competition, with women’s champ Sudo hoping to break 50 and shatter her previous best of 48.5 franks.

Coverage of the Independence Day tradition kicks off at 10:45 a.m. on ESPN’s streaming app, with the men’s contest starting at noon and airing on the app and ESPN2.

Chestnut and Sudo will also have their own dedicated cameras on them in hopes of catching the moment the champs beat their own records.

Chestnut, of Westfield, Ind., currently sits as the world’s top competitive eater, and is hoping to secure his 16th victory in the hotdog eating contest as he prepares to munch a mountain of franks in front of the iconic Nathan’s flagship restaurant in Coney Island once again.

During Monday’s weigh in, Chestnut touted that he would fight against the scorching and humid weather to once again prove his legacy as the world’s number one eater.

“I’m going to be sweating, it’s not going to be pretty, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to get those dogs down and break that record,” Chestnut told the cheering crowd.

The champ — who retained his title by scoffing 63 dogs at last year’s event – face stiff competition including elite challengers such as Nick Wehry, the fourth top eater in the world, and Japan’s number 1 eater Max Suzuki.

Chestnut also admitted to having some anxiousness after a protester stormed the stage during last year’s event and spoiled his legendary laser-sharp focus on the food in front of him.

Chestnut famously stopped the invader, putting him in a brief chokehold before cops arrived, but he worries the spectacle could attract another offender.

“I’m a little bit worried,” Chestnut told USA Today on Monday. “It seems like that’s getting more popular. You just never know. Hopefully it all works out.”

Scott Gilberson, the 22-year-old from Berkeley, Calif., who was arrested last year, however, said he’d cheer on anyone who attempts to storm the stage again.  

Meanwhile, Sudo, of Port Richey, Fla., faces stiff competition against Michelle Lesco, the woman the champ had to defeat last year to reclaim her top spot after going on hiatus the previous year due to her pregnancy.

Sudo said the 40 hot dogs which won her the 2022 contest was actually “disappointing,” vowing instead to surpass 50 and secure her ninth victory.

Sudo is married to Wehry, and their toddler, Max, will be at the event to cheer on his parents.

Officials said that along with the American champs, the top contenders include top eaters from England, Canada, Japan, Brazil and Australia.

The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Championship has taken place every year in Coney Island since 1916, when Nathan Handwerker opened the flagship store, according to the Major League Eating archive.