- Title: USA: 88TH ANNUAL HOT DOG EATING CONTEST TAKES PLACE IN NEW YORK
- Date: 4th July 2003
- Summary: WIDE OF COUNTDOWN TO START OF CONTEST VARIOUS COMPETITORS EATING (2 SHOTS) WIDE OF CROWD VARIOUS, COMPETITORS EATING SCU SONYA THOMAS EATING WIDE OF PRESS VARIOUS COMPETITORS EATING ( 3 SHOTS) CLOSE OF TIME CLOCK CLOSE OF EDWARD "COOKIE" JARVIS EATING
- Embargoed: 19th July 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Quirky,People,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA9NGXVREFZNDXSSKYHKLZJGHHX
- Story Text: The world's greatest fast food eaters converged at New York's Coney Island for the 88th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest. Japan's Takeru Kobayashi defended his title and became world champion for the third year in a row.
Crowds massed at New York's Coney Island on Friday (July 4) to witness a feat of gastronomical endurance - the 88th Annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Champion Takeru Kobayashi swallowed 44 1/2 dogs in 12 minutes, beating his competitors for the third year in a row.
The contest began with Kobayashi being carried to the eating platform. Last year, the 131-pound man from Japan ate 50 1/2 hot dogs, creating a new world record. Hopes were high that he would be able to beat his own record this time around.
After the countdown, 20 competitors began shoving handfuls of hot dogs into their mouths. Wiggling, jumping, dancing - they did just about everything to get the dogs down.
To the disappointment of the crowd, however, Kobayashi did not break his previous record; he missed it by only 6 hots dogs. Kobayashi blamed it on his technique. He said, "I was down on my speed this year, so I have to improve next year."
Despite the decrease in dogs, Kobayashi was still crowned champion. He received the coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt for the third year in a row.
Setting the standard for hungry females everywhere, Sonya Thomas set a new record for women. She finished fourth with 25 hot dogs. Said Thomas, "All of the competitors, they are all nice, sweet, and kind. I really had a great time with them, and I want to come back again."
Receiving the second place trophy was Edward "Cookie"
Jarvis, who gave Kobayashi a good run for his money with 30 dogs. Jarvis was more than satisfied with second place. He said, "I've been losing weight, and I've been training like an animal at the gym, and I knew that this trophy, number two, would be mine."
Japan has claimed first prize at the contest six times in the past seven years, and Kobayashi said that he will return in 2004 to defend his title.
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