Joey Chestnut, described by ESPN sports reporter Jeremy Schaap as "the greatest eater in human history," won his 18th championship at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York. In this traditional competition held on July 4th, Chestnut consumed 66 hot dogs, once again claiming the top spot. Although this result fell short of his all-time best of 76 in 2021, it was enough to surpass the day's second-place contender, Pat Bertoletti.

In an interview with ESPN after the competition, the 42-year-old Chestnut stated that he didn't pay much attention to the impact of the 32-degree heat in New York on his performance. "I’m not going to make excuses for this," Chestnut said, acknowledging that the hot weather slowed him down. However, he emphasized that he knew from the start he wouldn’t be able to surpass the target of 76 hot dogs and needed to stay calm.

In the women's category, favorite Miki Sudo defended her mustard belt for the 12th time and fifth consecutive year by eating 38.75 hot dogs. Sudo's achievement makes her one of the strongest competitors in the contest. The performances of both contestants once again showcased how competitive and exciting this traditional event is.

As in previous years, Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest provided viewers with unforgettable moments, and the successes of Chestnut and Sudo are a testament to the continuation of this tradition.