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Chestnut & Thomas Once Again Shine At Nathan’s Eating Event

Chestnut & Thomas Once Again Shine At Nathan’s Eating EventIn case you missed it during a busy Fourth of July week, Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas were the dominant winners at the annual Nathan's hot dog eating contest at New York’s Coney Island.  Each took home a check for $10,000, as a result of their digestive efforts.

Chestnut won his sixth consecutive Nathan's title by inhaling 68 dogs and buns in 10 minutes, roughly one every nine seconds. "Jaws" tied his personal best of 68 and finished 16 ahead of "Eater X" Tim Janus, who was second in the artery-clogging spectacle. Chestnut's big rival, Takeru Kobayashi missed the event for the third straight year, due to a contract dispute.   

Check out the crazy video below.

Sonya Thomas, 45, won the women's division for the second consecutive year by gurgitating her best-ever 45 wieners, despite weighing in at a mere 98 pounds. "The Black Widow" won the initial women's competition last year with 40. 

Thomas returned to Virginia with the prestigious Pepto-Bismol pink belt. Away from competitive eating, she manages a Burger King and enjoys eating at buffets. 

Thomas, who grew up poor and hungry in South Korea, also holds the world records in 25 competitions including sausages, baked beans, oysters, chili cheese fries, and fruit-cakes. 

 

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Bruce has traveled the world, both working for and covering a wide array of the sports world’s greatest events. Below is a sampling of the level of experience and perspective he brings to ifollosports.com.

OLYMPIC GAMES:  
Munich 1972, Montreal 1976, Los Angeles 1984, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Salt Lake City 2002, Beijing 2008     
*Editor of the Official Report of the 1984 Olympic Games

PAN AMERICAN GAMES:   
Caracas 1983, Indianapolis 1987, Havana 1991, Mar del Plata 1995, Winnipeg 1999



WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES:   
Zagreb 1987, Duisberg 1989, Sheffield 1991, Buffalo 1993, Fukuoka 1995, Sicily 1997, Palma de Mallorca 1999 

USA TRACK AND FIELD:     
World Championships (Helsinki 1983), World Junior Championships (Athens 1986), World Cup (Rome 1981), World Cup (Havana 1992), Pan American Junior Championships (Barqisimeto 1982, Orlando 1986)  Editor of USATF annual calendar project (1980-1991) and Cross Country handbook (1979-1991) 

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: 
World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009.

ASSOCIATED PRESS     
Correspondent covering the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA Bruins basketball, track and field, and swimming 1977-1989
  

A California native, Bruce is a 
graduate of UCLA and resides in Venice Beach.

 

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