NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The world’s “elite eaters” weighed in at Hudson Yards Friday afternoon, ahead of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday.
Reigning men’s champion Joey Chestnut was among those weighing in, days before he is favorited to win the competition for the 14th time.
This year, Chestnut is hoping to best Geoffrey Esper, who is the second best ranked competitive eater in the world.
At the annual weigh-in, he told the crowd he was hoping to down around 77 hot dogs this year – which would surpass his record of consuming 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
“I'm going for this win and I'm hoping to find that perfect rhythm,” Chestnut said.
Chestnut set the world record in 2020, when the competition was held at a private location without an audience due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year, the competition will be held at Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, just steps from the Nathan's flagship store on Surf and Stillwell avenues.
There will be no pandemic restrictions and organizers say they expect a capacity crowd.
The annual Fourth of July tradition will kick off at 11:30 a.m. with 10 participants in the women’s competition.
Reigning champion Miki Sudo, who hold’s the current woman’s record of consuming 48.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, will not be competing this year because she is pregnant.
However, she was at the annual weigh-in event on Friday saying she will return next year to try to win her eighth title.
Arizona schoolteacher Michelle Lesco, whose personal record is 34 hot dogs, is favorited to win the woman’s contest this year.
The men’s hot dog eating competition will get underway with 18 contestants at 12:30 p.m. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at 10:45 a.m.
As part of the event, Nathan’s is expected to also donate 100,000 hot dogs to the Food Bank for New York City ahead of the competitions.
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