USA: JAPAN'S TAKERU KOBAYASHI SURVIVES EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY TO RETAIN HIS CONEY ISLAND HOT DOG EATING TITLE IN NEW YORK

Record ID: 863041

  • Title: USA: JAPAN'S TAKERU KOBAYASHI SURVIVES EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY TO RETAIN HIS CONEY ISLAND HOT DOG EATING TITLE IN NEW YORK
  • Date: 4th July 2002
  • Summary: SV: FANS APPLAUDING SV: KOBAYASHI HOLDS UP TROPHY SCU: PLATES OF HOT DOGS ON TABLE SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) KOBAYASHI SAYING: "As a person I don't do well in the heat, but I wanted to do my best and I did." (Reporter question: Will he come back next year? "Next year, 60 hot dogs!" SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German) THOMAS MAINKA SAYING: "It was amazing, he is not from this world. I don't know how he made it." SV: KOBAYASHI HOLDING TRAY OF HOT DOGS
  • Embargoed: 19th July 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CONEY ISLAND, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABP09XL6SCKG54VTH8BTCPBTK5
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Under extreme heat and humidity, Japan's Takeru Kobayashi broke his world record at the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest, consuming 50 and a half hot dogs in twelve minutes.
    Japanese champion Takeru Kobayashi retained his title Thursday (July 4) in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, downing 50-and-a-half hot dogs in 12 minutes.
    He bested his own 2001 world record of 50 dogs in 12 minutes. Asked if the heat was a factor, he said; "As a person I don't do well in the heat, but I wanted to do my best and I did." And the big question is will he come back next year? "Next year, 60 hot dogs!," said the World Champion.
    Finishing second, Eric "Badlands" Booker of Copaigue, New York, who ate 26 hot dogs.
    The 24-year-old Kobayashi of Nagano, Japan, led a field of contenders representing the United States, Canada, Germany and Thailand.
    Thomas Mainka of Germany only was able to handle 7 hot dogs because of the heat. He was impressed by Kobayashi's performance. "It was amazing, he is not from this world. I don't know how he made it," Mainka said.
    Kabayashi, who weighed in Wednesday at 113 pounds with the coveted mustard yellow belt, credits his success to months of training.
    He was the odds-on favourite going into the race, and is to receive a trophy, a year's supply of Nathan's hot dogs and retain the mustard-yellow belt.
    The heat was not a factor. Even with temperatures in the high 90's(Farenheit), Kabayashi managed to break his own world record.
    This was Nathan's Famous' 87th annual contest. It has been held at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues each year since 1916, when Nathan Handwerker took the advice of Eddie Cantor and Jimmy Durante and invested $300 to open his famous hot dog restaurant.
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