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Breaking news in the world of competitive eating as popular golf influencer Paige Spiranac has officially offered to fill in for Joey Chestnut in the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Chestnut, the greatest competitive eater in history, was banned this week from competing over a sponsorship dispute.
I’m available to fill in. My record is 6.5 hotdogs in 10 minutes https://t.co/deCJbEveTg
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) June 11, 2024
Of course, Paige Spiranac was joking (we think), but just in case the folks over at Nathan’s are still looking for a replacement, she went ahead and submitted some video evidence of her prowess at wolfing down hot dogs.
Joey Chestnut’s record for eating hot dogs, 76, was set during the 2021 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. He also held the previous records with 75, set in 2020, and 74, set in 2018.
How does Spiranac fare? Well… she gave it her best effort.
I have found the video proof. And I lied it was only 6 hotdogs and not 6.5. I might have to try again this July 4th. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/o5L55Ptucy
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) June 12, 2024
Yeah… she’s no Kobayashi, that’s for sure. (Kobayashi was also infamously banned from the contest for similar reasons as Joey Chestnut was given.)
On Tuesday, Joey Chestnut responded to the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest ban, saying he was “gutted to learn from the media” that he had been banned after 19 years competing in the event.
On Wednesday, the commissioner of Major League Eating, George Shea, appeared on AM 560 Sports WQAM in Miami to address Joey Chestnut’s ban from the contest.
“We did not want this,” Shea said. “What happened is, his reps came to us and said we have signed with a plant-based meat company that does hot dogs and that’s that.
“He didn’t come to us and say we have this other offer and let’s talk. It was ‘this offer is signed,’ so it made it very difficult to negotiate it.
“Everybody wants him there. He is not banned. We would love to have him there this year, next year. Anytime. But it is a conflict to have him be the Nathan’s champ while he’s representing a rival hot dog brand.
“[I] would work it out tomorrow. I would work it out on July 3rd. I would work it out on July 3rd of next year. Joey is always welcome at the 4th of July. He is in my opinion, the 4th of July. He is freedom-made man. America needs that hero.”
Does it though? Does it really?