Insiders believe the controversial banning of Nathan’s perennial hot dog champion, Joey Chestnut, from this year’s competition could be “good for the sport,” according to a fellow legendary competitive eating champion.
Miki Sudo, nine-time winner of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, revealed all to DailyMail.com ahead of the buzzy Fourth of July event.
Although she has steamrolled to victory over the past decade, Miki’s husband Nick Wehry – the fourth-ranked professional eater in the world – may have the best chance yet to join her on the podium.
“For the first time, we’re going to see five or six people competing for first place,” she said.
‘First place is not a foregone conclusion now… I think we will really see some “hungry” competitors.’
As she counted down the days before taking the stage in front of tens of thousands of people, Sudo also revealed what it really takes to become a world-renowned competitor – and her own record, she says, will never be broken.
Miki Sudo (left), nine-time Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, says banning perennial winner Joey Chestnut (right) is ‘absolutely’ good for the sport
Sudo, pictured riding to victory last year by eating 39.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, revealed to DailyMail.com what it takes to become a world-famous eater
Competitive eaters have been coming to Coney Island in New York City for the competition since 1972 and are given 10 minutes to eat as many sausages and sandwiches as possible.
The winners will receive a $10,000 cash prize, with Chestnut’s record of 76 dogs remaining undefeated in 2021 – just as he has done for 16 of the past 17 years.
But this year, fans were stunned to see Chestnut disqualified after insulting the event’s sponsor by partnering with a vegan food brand, leaving the 2024 competition “wide open,” Sudo said.
“This year’s competition will probably be the most exciting of any in recent history,” she said.
“I think the audience is going to see an exciting match that comes down to seconds, and probably fractions of hot dogs.”
Sudo emphasized that Chestnut is a “good friend” who she has known for years, but while she was “sad to see him go,” she believes the ban is “absolutely” good for the sport.
“The public will really see the talent that is on the circuit.”
Ahead of the competition, Sudo gave a glimpse into her preparations, including how she coaches her brain to avoid ‘taste fatigue’.
The vibrant event attracts more than 30,000 people every year and is broadcast on ESPN as millions watch professional diners tuck into sausages and sandwiches
Joey Chestnut has won 16 of the past 17 years and holds the world record, set in 2021, of eating a whopping 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes
Competitors compete for a $10,000 prize, and Sudo said Chestnut’s loss this year means “we’re going to see five or six people really battle it out for first place”
“I need my body to enjoy hot dog after hot dog after hot dog, and no matter how much you like eating something, if you’re not used to it for a long time, it becomes unpalatable,” she said.
‘It’s to get used to the taste… but especially for coordination. If you think of your mouth to your stomach as a kind of conveyor belt, you will get blockages if you don’t pack things neatly.’
To prepare her palate, Sudo eats dozens of hot dogs about three times a week, giving herself set times to practice her speed and technique.
“I need to know the hand movements, how much water I need, how many cups to make, things like that; in practice everything is in preparation for those 10 minutes.
“My mouth is never full of food, I think that’s inefficient… the less full my mouth feels, it doesn’t alert my brain that I’m getting full.”
While many viewers might imagine competitive eaters starving themselves before a competition to whet their appetites, Sudo said this is far from everything she would recommend for a large feast.
“I wouldn’t want to go into a competition hungry because I would just be exhausted,” she said. “You have to put all this energy into 90-degree heat, and when you’re tired and weak, you’re going to compete for high grades.”
Instead, Sudo said she limits her pre-race diet to “easily digestible” foods like a protein shake, to keep herself satiated without building up food in her system.
Sudo is married to Nick Wehry, the world’s fourth-ranked eater, who she says she practices with when they’re not caring for their toddler Max (pictured together after her 2022 win)
Contrary to popular belief, Sudo said participants do not starve themselves before the event, which is partly to avoid fatigue when they sit down to dinner on the hot day of the Fourth of July.
Sudo emphasized that Chestnut is a “good friend” who she has known for years, but while she was “sad to see him go,” she believes the ban is “absolutely” good for the sport.
She admitted that while she doesn’t tend to throw up after a game, there are other problems that can come from eating thousands of calories of hot dogs in a matter of minutes.
“I feel dehydrated because of the sodium… and the hot dogs themselves don’t have much fiber, so your readers can extrapolate from that what they think the aftermath is like,” she joked.
‘It will take me at least four days to fully come back and feel like myself again.’
Sudo said she is not underestimating her rivals as she battles for a 10th consecutive win at this year’s event, but admitted she still believes one of her own records may never be beaten.
In 2017, Sudo set a staggering world record for ice cream eating, devouring 16.5 pints in just six minutes.
“A lot of people have had that competition many times, and no one has come close,” she said.