Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Winners 2012: Reigning Champions Dominate
The Fourth of July 2012 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest male and female winners have been announced as Joey "Jaws" Chestnut and Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas.
Each winner earned their second consecutive win this year and $10,000 in prize money during the New York contest Wednesday. While Chestnut maintained his record, Thomas went on to set a new women's world record.
The 100-pound contestant earned the world record title by downing 45 hot dogs. Thomas had aimed to simply maintain her past record of 41 hot dogs but ended up easily surpassing it.
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"My technique is, I dunk two hot dogs in the water cup and then eat," she said.
Alternately, Chestnut defended his title and matched his past record by consuming 68 hot dogs in just 10 minutes.
"My record is 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes, and I'm going to break it hopefully by eating it like a beast," said Chestnut ahead of the competition, according to CNN.
The 210-pound man earned his sixth championship title at the competition.
Second place in the men's division went to Tim Janus with 52 hot dogs. He will take home $2,000.
On Twitter, Chestnut and Thomas are being congratulated on their feats.
"Maximum respect to joey chestnut for steaming through 68 hotdogs in 10 minutes," wrote Joe. "To win his 6th straight hot dog title. Buzzing off this."
Austin posted, "Ohh man I forgot about the hotdog contest… Joey Chestnut reppin Murica."
"Congrats to Sonya Thomas, the Black Widow, on setting a new record for #nathans4th #hotdog @eatingcontest : 45! #4thofjuly," wrote City Chick.
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest started almost 100 years ago as entertainment along the famous boardwalk at Coney Island in New York. Deemed as "an American institution" by one competitive eater, the hot dog eating race fittingly occurs every Independence Day.
Last year was the first time the competition separated men and women during the hot dog eating race.
The Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating contest is not the only one of its kind. Other foods have their own competitions, including oysters, hamburgers, jalapenos, and meatballs, among many other items.
