Joey Chestnut puts animal rights protester in chokehold during hot dog eating contest

Competitive eating champion chows down on 63 hot dogs and buns during annual event

Top-ranked male competitive eater, Joey Chestnut, is introduced to the crowd before he competes in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York. EPA

Mr Chestnut makes a grand entrance at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in Coney Island. AP

The event started off normally, with Mr Chestnut and other contestants weighing in. EPA

Competitive eaters Michelle Lesco and Mr Chestnut pose before the event. AP

Top male competitive eaters from left, Nick Wehry, Joey Chestnut and Geoffrey Esper eat their first hot dogs and buns. EPA

About 17 hot dogs into the contest, a protester jumps on the stage. EPA

The sign refers to Smithfield Foods, the manufacturer of Nathan's hot dogs. Reuters

Mr Chestnut tackles the protester, putting him in a chokehold and throwing him to the floor. EPA

Joey Chestnut tackles a protester who interrupted the competition during the 2022 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on Coney Island on July 4, 2022 in New York. - Joey Chestnut won by eating 63 hot dogs and buns. (Photo by Yuki IWAMURA / AFP)

Mr Chestnut is still holding a fistful of hot dogs as he grapples with the protester. Reuters

The incident lasts only a few seconds. Reuters

Mr Chestnut resumed eating hot dogs after the incident. AFP

Mr Chestnut ate 63 hot dogs to win the men's division of the contest. AP

The event is a July 4 tradition for New York. EPA

The moment Mr Chestnut reached his 60th hot dog. EPA

Mr Chestnut chows down. AP

The crowd cheers the competitive eaters on. AFP

After winning first place for eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes, Mr Chestnut was awarded a trophy belt. AFP

Mr Chestnut and women's champ Miki Sudo pose with 63 and 40 hot dogs, respectively, after winning the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. AP

Apparently a vegan option was not available to either contestant. AFP

An audience member holds a 'Tastes Like Freedom' sign. AFP

The world record, set by Mr Chestnut last year, is 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. AP

Mr Chestnut celebrates his victory. AFP

Frankfurter-munching phenomenon Joey “Jaws” Chestnut put a protester in a chokehold while gobbling his way to a 15th win on Monday at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot-dog-eating contest, powering down 63 hot dogs and buns at the annual exhibition of excess.

In a decisive comeback, women's record-holder Miki Sudo downed 40 wieners and buns to win the women's title after skipping last year's frank fest because she was pregnant.

A spectator wearing a Darth Vader mask rushed the stage, momentarily disrupting the competition. Mr Chestnut put the protester in a brief chokehold before contest officials hurried over and escorted the intruder away.

Another protester in a white storm trooper mask had also snuck behind the competitors and hoisted a sign saying, “Expose Smithfield's Deathstar”. Smithfield Foods manufactures Nathan's famous hot dogs.

After the altercation, Mr Chestnut went back to the task at hand: devouring more hot dogs.

Monday marked the contest's return to its traditional location outside Nathan’s flagship shop in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighbourhood. The event was relocated in 2020 and last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s beautiful to be back here” in front of a throng of spectators, Mr Chestnut told ESPN after his feat, which the 38-year-old managed while wearing a surgical boot because of a leg injury.

“It hurts, but I was in the zone for a little bit. I was ignoring it,” said Mr Chestnut, but the pain eventually slowed his pace in the 10-minute competition.

Joey Chestnut tackles a protester who interrupted the competition during the 2022 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on Coney Island, New York. AFP

Last year, the Westfield, Indiana, resident topped his own record by consuming 76 franks and buns.

Ms Sudo, of Tampa, Florida, set the women's record at 48.5 wieners and buns in 2020, before taking last year off while expecting. She and Nick Wehry — a fellow competitive eater whom she met through the Nathan's contest in 2018 — welcomed their son, Max, on July 8, 2021.

From his dad's arms, the baby watched his 36-year-old mother notch her eighth Nathan's win. She told ESPN afterward that she hoped he would someday take a message away from it.

“I want to set an example,” she said, “to do things that you love and push yourself to your absolute limits and, when things get difficult, to still give it a try. And, you know, you might actually just come out victorious.”

Ms Sudo then took over parenting duties while Mr Wehry tried for the men's title.

In conjunction with the spectacle, Nathan’s donates 100,000 franks to the Food Bank for New York City.