Hear Joey Chestnut prepare for his hot dog eating contest
Joey Chestnut, winner of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 16 times, tells Sports Serious what you need to prepare for the Fourth of July.
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Madison Barone stepped onto the eating competition’s biggest stage last year. Two days later, she spoke of “the biggest comeback of all time.”
Possibility of her comeback.
Barone, 25, debuted as a wild card participant in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest a year ago after placing second in the heats. However, shortly after the big contest ended, Barone was disqualified.
The problem is that Barone, who said she ate nine hot dogs and hot dog buns, couldn’t keep them down before the top five men and women were announced. That’s against the contest rules.
This story went viral. But Barone had a different ending in mind.
On June 13, a potential path to redemption led him to Nathan’s qualifying in Bristol, Conn., about 250 miles from his home in Manville, N.J.
According to records, Barone refrained from eating everything this time, including five and a half hot dogs and bread. However, this placed her in fourth place and only the top two could advance.
Last year, she ate eight and a half hot dogs and buns during qualifying.
“There was something different about the hot dog,” Barone told USA TODAY Sports, declining to elaborate.
The cover photo of her Facebook page shows her business card on a competitive dining table at Nathan’s. She still hopes to get back on the table.
“There’s definitely going to be next year,” Barone said.
Detailed explanation of DQ
Nathan officials used delicate and complicated language last year after Barone’s sloppy finish.
“Mr. Barone experienced a repulsive urge after the contest, prior to the conclusion of the presentation and the awarding of rankings,” Sam Barkley, director of operations for Major League Eating, told USA TODAY Sports. “Due to Major League Baseball’s dietary regulations, any urge to object to swallowing before the conclusion of an event such as a presentation or awarding of prizes will result in a DQ.”
Contest host George Shea balked at the word vomit.
“We only say impulses that are contrary to swallowing,” Shea told USA TODAY Sports. That’s like saying Voldemort. ”

