Joey Chestnut is a legend in the eating game, winning the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest a record 14 times and setting the record for most hot dogs eaten with a whopping 76 hot dogs in last years contest.
Given his track record, Chestnut was a heavy favorite heading into this year’s event as a -3000 favorite to win the contest.
However, Chestnut had to deal with some adversity during the event this year that he has certainly never faced before.
An animal rights protestor decided to jump on stage during the event in protest of pork producer Smithfield Foods with a sign reading “Expose Smithfield Deathstar.”
His appearance on camera did not last long, as Chestnut promptly took him down while eating his 17th hot dog with a chokehold until security could take him off stage.
Joey Chestnut
Unfazed. pic.twitter.com/FDIpjB5VV6
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 4, 2022
This feat is even more impressive considering Chestnut came into the event with crutches for a ruptured tendon in his right foot.
Many took to social media to share just how awesome of a moment they thought this was considering the circumstances.
Joey Chestnut also Jason Bourne pic.twitter.com/sPJKUu1tkM
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) July 4, 2022
16th hot dog title ✅
Won by 20+ dogs ✅
Hobbled with injured leg ✅
Bodybagged protestor mid contest ✅
Joey Chestnut the 🐐 pic.twitter.com/h8Y7v6KbX6
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) July 4, 2022
Joey Chestnut won the hot dog contest by 20 and choked out a protestor along the way. LEGEND. pic.twitter.com/ipGm263PdS
— The Degenerates (@degen_betting) July 4, 2022
Joey Chestnut, broken foot and all, slammed a protestor down with a chokehold and still cleared the field by 20 dogs. If he’s not the greatest athlete on the planet, I don’t know who is. pic.twitter.com/itHNK3Tg3b
— Marc Malkoskie (@marcmalkoskie) July 4, 2022
This clearly set Chestnut back on his normal pace of over 70 hot dogs, but he was still able to win the event comfortably with 63 hot dogs eaten and secure his 15th mustard-yellow belt.
Chestnut had a 20 hot dog advantage over second-place finisher Geoffrey Esper, which is an insane feat in itself.
Given the controversy with the protestor, this was definitely the wildest event that we have seen in some time. Truthfully, stopping a protestor in the middle of the contest while coming to the event on crutches may be more impressive than eating 63 hot dogs in ten minutes.
One thing is for sure, and that is that Joey Chestnut is a living legend of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.