Every Fourth of July, families across the nation come together to participate in a great American tradition: the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating competition. Jacqueline Lewis, a 26-year-old competitor, shared her thoughts with CNN about the event, stating that “people want to know how many hot dogs a human can eat in that amount of time.” With close to two million viewers tuning in on ESPN each year, the competition has become a highly anticipated event.
Competitors train rigorously for months in advance, pushing their bodies to consume thousands of calories in just a few minutes. When reigning champion Joey Chestnut was recently banned from the competition due to a deal with Impossible Foods, it sparked national headlines. The tradition of competitive eating dates back centuries, with contests featuring various foods such as onions, watermelon, and pies.
The origins of the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest can be traced back to the 1970s, where it started as a local event in Brooklyn. Over the years, marketing visionaries George and Richard Shea transformed the contest into a massive spectacle. George Shea, who still hosts the competition, plays a key role in hyping up the event with dramatic proclamations and theatrical announcements.
The rise of mainstream competitive eating in the United States can be attributed to the Sheas’ efforts, with the competition gaining widespread popularity in the 1990s. The addition of competitors like Takeru Kobayashi, who showcased remarkable talent and dedication to the sport, further solidified the competition’s place in American culture. Despite criticism of the excess and shock value associated with competitive eating, the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest continues to attract viewers year after year.
