1967 1975 The Early Years

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest: A History of Winners

1967-1975: The Early Years

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was first held in 1916, and for the first nine years, it was open to both men and women. The first contest was won by a man named Frank "Jumbo" Lubin, who ate 13 hot dogs in 12 minutes. The first female winner was Clara Anderson, who ate 12 hot dogs in the same time frame.

1976-1985: The Joey Chestnut Era

In 2001, a young man named Joey Chestnut burst onto the scene and quickly became the dominant force in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chestnut has won the contest 15 times, including the last 14 years in a row. His record-setting performance came in 2021, when he ate 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

2011: The First Women's Contest

In 2011, the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was split into two separate competitions, one for men and one for women. The first women's contest was won by Sonya Thomas, who ate 45 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Recent Winners

• 2022: Joey Chestnut (76 hot dogs)
• 2021: Joey Chestnut (76 hot dogs)
• 2020: Joey Chestnut (75 hot dogs)
• 2019: Joey Chestnut (71 hot dogs)
• 2018: Joey Chestnut (74 hot dogs)

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is one of the most popular and iconic sporting events in the world. It is a testament to the human body's ability to accomplish amazing feats, and it is always a fun and exciting event to watch.