Japanese American keeps her title as hot-dog eating champion

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE
Mikie Sudo on her way to making a world record in eathing hot dogs.

Frankly speaking, I'm not sure how Miki Sudo did it. She set a world record by eating 48.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes for her seventh consecutive win in the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Sonya Thomas had held the record of 45 since 2013.

With her seventh title, the Japanese American competitive eater passed Takeru Kobayashi, who won six men's contests, and ranks second only to Joey Chestnut, who won the men's competition for the 13th time while breaking his own world record with 75 hot dogs.

Chestnut's biggest threat in recent years has been Matt Stonie, an Asian American from San Jose, CA, but he wasn't competing this year because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Unlike years past when the July 4th contest was held at the Coney Island Boardwalk with hundreds of cheering spectators, because of the coronavirus, the competition was held indoors with no fans in attendance.

TWITTER / MIKI SUDO

Women's hot dog eating champ Miki Sudo with her six championship belts before the annual contest.

The change of venue seemed to help both champions as they gulped their way to world records.

"I feel great," said 34-year old Sudo, who finished 32.5 hot dogs and buns ahead of her closest competitor Saturday. "I'm sure the physical effects will kick in in a little bit. I think the condensed preparation period really lit a fire under me."

Both Chestnut and Sudo won $10,000 in addition to their respective championship belts.