Hot dog! It's a new record
July 6 2003
Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi of Japan downed 44-1/2 hot dogs in 12 minutes yesterday, confirming his status as perhaps the most phenomenal competitive eater of the modern era.
The 25-year-old Japanese "gurgitator" blew away his rivals to retain the Mustard Yellow Belt - viewed as the World Cup of competitive eating - for the third year in a row.
But Kobayashi, who weighs in at a relatively waif-like 59 kg, appeared disappointed with his performance, which was well short of the world record 50-1/2 hot dogs he wolfed down the previous year.
As the buzzer sounded for the end of the competition, the diminutive Japanese banged first his fist and then head on the frank-strewn table, before sinking to his knees in frustration.
Even more of a disappointment was the pitiful performance of former American football star, William "The Refrigerator" Perry, who was making his debut in the 2003 event.
More than three times Kobayashi's weight at 190 kg, Perry had been hyped as the great American hope to wrest back the Mustard Yellow Belt for the host nation.
However, his appetite proved no match for his girth, and the one-time Chicago Bears defensive linesman dropped out less than half way through after setting the distinctly amateurish pace of one dog a minute.
In the end it was up to the reigning world "Battle of the Buffet" champion, Ed "Cookie" Jarvis, to give the home crowd something to shout about.
A 35-year-old real estate salesman from Long Island, the 172 kg Jarvis set a new US national record of 30-1/2 hot dogs to take second place.
Prior to the competition, Jarvis revealed that his psychic had told him "this will be my year".
Third was the 181 kg New York subway conductor, Eric "Badlands" Booker, with a creditable 29 dogs.
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition has been held every year since 1916 in New York's Coney Island on the July 4 holiday.
This year's contest featured 21 eaters from Japan, Germany, Thailand, Britain and the United States, all of whom have had to gorge their way through regional qualifiers.
July 6 2003
Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi of Japan downed 44-1/2 hot dogs in 12 minutes yesterday, confirming his status as perhaps the most phenomenal competitive eater of the modern era.
The 25-year-old Japanese "gurgitator" blew away his rivals to retain the Mustard Yellow Belt - viewed as the World Cup of competitive eating - for the third year in a row.
But Kobayashi, who weighs in at a relatively waif-like 59 kg, appeared disappointed with his performance, which was well short of the world record 50-1/2 hot dogs he wolfed down the previous year.
As the buzzer sounded for the end of the competition, the diminutive Japanese banged first his fist and then head on the frank-strewn table, before sinking to his knees in frustration.
Even more of a disappointment was the pitiful performance of former American football star, William "The Refrigerator" Perry, who was making his debut in the 2003 event.
More than three times Kobayashi's weight at 190 kg, Perry had been hyped as the great American hope to wrest back the Mustard Yellow Belt for the host nation.
However, his appetite proved no match for his girth, and the one-time Chicago Bears defensive linesman dropped out less than half way through after setting the distinctly amateurish pace of one dog a minute.
In the end it was up to the reigning world "Battle of the Buffet" champion, Ed "Cookie" Jarvis, to give the home crowd something to shout about.
A 35-year-old real estate salesman from Long Island, the 172 kg Jarvis set a new US national record of 30-1/2 hot dogs to take second place.
Prior to the competition, Jarvis revealed that his psychic had told him "this will be my year".
Third was the 181 kg New York subway conductor, Eric "Badlands" Booker, with a creditable 29 dogs.
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition has been held every year since 1916 in New York's Coney Island on the July 4 holiday.
This year's contest featured 21 eaters from Japan, Germany, Thailand, Britain and the United States, all of whom have had to gorge their way through regional qualifiers.
