Frankfurter-munching phenom Joey B次元官网网址淛awsB次元官网网址� Chestnut put a protester in a chokehold while gobbling his way to a 15th win Monday at the NathanB次元官网网址檚 Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, powering down 63 hot dogs and buns at the annual exhibition of excess.

In a decisive chowdown comeback, womenB次元官网网址檚 record-holder Miki Sudo downed 40 wieners and buns to win the womenB次元官网网址檚 title after skipping last yearB次元官网网址檚 frank fest because she was pregnant.

A spectator wearing a Darth Vader mask rushed the stage, momentarily disrupting the competition. Chestnut put the protester in a brief chokehold before contest officials hurried over and escorted the intruder away.

Another protester in a white stormtrooper mask had also snuck behind the competitors and hoisted a sign saying, B次元官网网址淓xpose SmithfieldB次元官网网址檚 Deathstar.B次元官网网址� Smithfield manufactures NathanB次元官网网址檚 famous hotdogs.

After the altercation, Chestnut went back to the task at hand: Devouring more hot dogs.

Monday marked the contestB次元官网网址檚 return to its traditional location outside NathanB次元官网网址檚 flagship shop in BrooklynB次元官网网址檚 Coney Island neighborhood. The event was relocated in 2020 and last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 beautiful to be back hereB次元官网网址� in front of a throng of spectators, Chestnut told ESPN after his feat, which the 38-year-old managed while wearing a surgical boot because of a leg injury.

B次元官网网址淚t hurts, but I was in the zone for a little bit. I was ignoring it,B次元官网网址� said Chestnut, but the pain eventually slowed his pace in the 10-minute competition.

Last year, the Westfield, Indiana, resident by consuming 76 franks and buns.

Sudo, of Tampa, Florida, at 48 1/2 weiners and buns in 2020, before taking last year off while expecting. She and Nick Wehry B次元官网网址� a fellow competitive eater whom she met through the NathanB次元官网网址檚 contest in 2018 B次元官网网址� welcomed son Max on July 8, 2021.

From dadB次元官网网址檚 arms, the baby watched his 36-year-old mother notch her eighth NathanB次元官网网址檚 win. She told ESPN afterward that she hoped he would someday take a message away from it.

B次元官网网址淚 want to set an example,B次元官网网址� she said, B次元官网网址渢o do things that you love and push yourself to your absolute limits and, when things get difficult, to still give it a try. And, you know, you might actually just come out victorious.B次元官网网址�

Sudo then took over parenting duties while Wehry tried for the menB次元官网网址檚 title.

In conjunction with the spectacle, NathanB次元官网网址檚 donates 100,000 franks to the Food Bank for New York City.

Jennifer Peltz And Julia Nikhinson, The Associated Press