Joey “Jaws” Chestnut battled a long weather delay to capture his 16th Mustard Belt at the 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chestnut consumed 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes to retain its title as the world champion of hot dog eating.
Chestnut had to wait a little longer than expected because thunderstorms in the New York area caused a two-hour delay. That did seem to bother Chestnut, who started out on a furious pace, and that allowed him to separate himself from the rest of the field.
Chestnut was not quite able to keep up that pace for the entirety of the competition, and he wasn’t able to break his world record of 76 hot dogs and buns. Chestnut’s official total of 62 hot dogs and buns was one fewer than the 63 he consumed to win the event in 2022. Chestnut still finished 13 ahead of the runner-up, Geoffrey Esper, for another emphatic win.
The race for second and third place went right down to the wire. Esper, who came to the second place last year, finished at the same spot this year with 49 hot dogs and buns eaten. James Webb was right behind him in third place with 47 hot dogs and consumed buns.
Before the men’s competition, Miki Sudo continued her run of dominance in the women’s event, winning her ninth career Mustard Belt with 39.5 hot dogs and buns. She got a good fight from Mayoi Ebihara, who finished second with 33.5 hot dogs and buns.