Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2023: Joey Chestnut eats 62 hot dogs to win title

Eating superstar Joey “Jaws” Chestnut shook off a rain delay and gobbled his way to another win at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, downing 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes.

The annual contest on New York City’s Coney Island drew competitors from England, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Brazil and Australia, according to ESPN.

Chestnut out ate runner-up Geoffrey Esper and the rest of an international field of 15 competitive eaters by double digits to clinch his 16th title. Esper, of Oxford, Massachusetts managed to ingest 49 hot dogs and buns. Above: Nick Wehry, World Champion Joey Chestnut and Geoffrey Esper compete

In the women's contest, defending champion Miki Sudo forced down 39 1/2 hot dogs and buns to collect her ninth Mustard Belt. But before the men could compete, stormy weather moved over New York City's Coney Island and delayed the competition for two hours. Above: World Champion Miki Sudo celebrates after winning.

“What a roller coaster, emotionally,” Chestnut said after riding out the rain and wondering whether the famed contest would go on at all. The 39-year-old from Westfield, Indiana first competed for the Nathan's title in 2005 and hasn't lost it since 2015. Above: Joey Chestnut.

His best finish was in 2021 when he tallied 76 hot dogs, but Tuesday's weather disruption made a repeat impossible. “Everybody got messed up,” Chestnut said. Above: Joey Chestnut.

“What a roller coaster, emotionally,” Chestnut said after riding out the rain and wondering whether the famed contest would go on at all. The 39-year-old from Westfield, Indiana first competed for the Nathan's title in 2005 and hasn't lost it since 2015. Above: Hot dogs are placed on the competition table ahead of the contest..

Sudo, 37, was disappointed in her winning total, which was nine hot dogs short of her all-time high. She said competition from the 27-year-old Ebihara had thrown her off. “The first couple minutes, I found myself watching her, which I never want to do. I never want to be distracted by the other competitors,” Sudo, of Port Richey, Florida, said after the competition. “Watching her, I fumbled my hands. I got stuck with a big burp early on but was able to correct.” Above: World Champions Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo pose together with George Shea.