Man downs 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes to defend famous Fourth of July contest belt

A man has gobbled his way to victory at a New York contest by eating 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes – averaging one every 10 seconds or less.

Renowned competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut chomped through Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog competition claiming his 16th title, which hasn’t left his clutches since 2016.

The 39-year-old from Indiana comfortably out-ate his opponents, with runner-up Geoffrey Esper managing 49 hot dogs.

It’s Jaws’s 16th title since first competing in the yearly Independence Day contest in 2005.

However, Chestnut was unable to outdo his 2021 record when he notched 76 hot dogs, partially down to the stormy weather that delayed the competition by two hours.

“Everybody got messed up,” Chestnut said.

After his win, the speed eater said it was “a rollercoaster, emotionally” having wondered if the contest would go ahead at all.

He lost the coveted Mustard Belt in 2015 to YouTube eating phenomenon Matt Stonie, who pipped him with 62 hot dogs to 60.

In the women’s division, defending champion Miki Sudo swallowed 39 and-a-half hot dogs and buns to claim her ninth title.

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She beat runner-up Mayoi Ebihara’s 33-and-a-half total after being distracted early on.

The competition is believed to have originated in 1972 and this year’s event drew competitors from England, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Brazil and Australia, according to ESPN.