Nathan's hot dog eating champ Joey Chestnut sets record with 16th victory, fails to beat own record

Joey Chestnut didn't live up to his own expectations, but the competitive eating champion still notched his 16th victory in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Tuesday.

He set a record for wins in this year's rain-delayed 10-minute contest, which happens every Independence Day, despite only finishing 62 hot dogs this year, down from his record 76 consumed hot dogs in 2021 and five fewer than his 2022 victory, which was marred by a protester rushing the stage, according to the New York Post.

Organizers initially canceled the competition due to passing storms, and the "delay didn't help" his ability to successfully swallow hot dogs, Chestnut said. "My rhythm was off a little bit," but he'll "find a way" to break his own record next year.

Chestnut still beat the runner-up, Massachusetts' Geoffrey Esper, by 13 franks. Third-place finisher, Australian James Webb, came two behind Esper, with 47 consumed hot dogs.