Eating Contests

Takeru Kobayashi continues to beef up his competitive eating record. Yesterday, the Japanese speed-eating demon defeated two-year reigning champion Joey Chestnut in the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, TN. Before a live televised audience and a crowd of 10,000, Kobayashi crushed the competition by eating 93 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes over Chestnut's 81. In addition to reclaiming the title, which he's taken four out of six years, the Japanese victor also won $20,000. Although Chestnut won the Square Off last year with a record of 93 hamburgers, Kobayashi set a new standard by adhering to the contest's new rules. This year, Krystal imposed a "no dunking" rule, which prevented eaters from dipping their burgers in liquid. The competitors were also given five Big Angus Burgers at the start of the competition, each equal to five Krystal burgers in size. While I find competitive eating horrifying, I am still in awe of Kobayashi's accomplishment. I don't think I've ever eaten more than a large cheeseburger in one sitting. What's the most burgers you've ever eaten?

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To most people, the Fourth of July means barbecue, fireworks, and a long weekend. However, in the world of competitive eating, the all-American holiday brings to mind one thing: Nathan's annual hot dog eating competition. The Super Bowl of competitive eating, Nathan's contest is the most-watched, most-hyped competition of the season. Earlier today on Coney Island, the darlings of the competitive eating world, Takeru Kobayashi and two-year reigning champ Joey Chestnut, faced off in an epic battle.

The rivals are both seasoned, serious, and adorned professionals, but in the end, after chowing down 68 hot dogs — a new world record — Chestnut won. Throughout the 10-minute competition, Chestnut maintained a two-dog lead against Kobayashi. "I've been practicing hard," Chestnut said after winning. "I knew it would be hard to beat me."