New York – It is the dawn of a new era Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago also won the men's division 58 Hot Dogs and Buns.
For the first time in years, the men's tournament was openwith Joey Chestnut did not compete.
The lack of chestnut made the competition fierce from the start.
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Bertoletti, the #9 eater in the world according to Major League Eating, jumped out to an early lead, followed by Jeffrey Esper of Oxford and Nick Wehri of Tampa, Florida. Midway through the match, Australia's James Webb briefly took the lead. Bertoletti rallied again and led until the end.
Esper finished third with 53. Webb finished third with 52.
See the complete list of male and female contestants.
Why is Joey Chestnut not competing this year?
Chestnut, the 16-time champion, did not appear this year because of a partnership with a rival plant-based hot dog company. He will appear this year at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he will compete with four service members at 5 p.m.
Chestnut set a record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021.
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Miki Sudo set a new record in the women's category
Miki Sudo set a new record in the women's category 2024 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 51 with hot dogs and buns.
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Sudo, 38, has won every year since 2014 except 2021 — a year she pulled out due to pregnancy. His personal best was 48.5 hot dogs and buns, which he shattered this year with a 51.
Sudo successfully defended his title for the tenth time. As Major League Eating's world's top-ranked female eater, Tsudo fended off a stiff challenge from Japan's Mayoi Ebihara, who ate 37.
Sudo thanked Ebihara for « pushing me so much ».
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Sudo said he was « excited » and « really wanted to win ».
Sudo is married to fellow competitor Nicolas Vehri. With 51, he has now taken his tally to 48.
Michelle Lesko placed third in the women's division with 23 hot dogs and buns.
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Thousands of visitors attended the annual event at Nathan's Famous Flagship Restaurant at Surf and Stilwell Avenues. The program also featured dance and musical performances.
The Fourth of July tradition dates back to 1916.
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Wins the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt and carries a $20,000 cash prize.
At Thursday's event, Eric « Badlands » Booker set a new record in the Nathan's Lemonade Chugging Contest by consuming a gallon in 21 seconds.
Also, per tradition, Nathan's Famous donates 100,000 hot dogs to the Food Bank for New York City.