Joey Chestnut versus Usain Bolt? Debate over who would win challenge goes viral

NBC News

5 days ago

In a race between Joey Chestnut and Usain Bolt, who could eat a hot dog then run a 100-meter dash faster?
Professional athletes and hot dog-eating contest fans alike are divided as the new hypothetical scenario goes viral on social media.
In a TikTok video posted by the official account for the PGA Tour, professional golfers were asked whether the nationally recognized competitive eater would beat the eight-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter in the proposed race.
Without hesitation, Max Homa responded to the hypothetical, 'Oh, Joey Chestnut, I think.'
Later in the clip, he explained that he believes Chestnut could likely run 100 meters in less than 20 seconds, adding, 'I'm hard pressed that I could eat a hot dog in 20 seconds. Yeah, I'm going Joey Chestnut.'
At first, Jordan Spieth locked in Bolt before asking how quickly Chestnut can eat a hot dog. (In this year's Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Chestnut was once again crowned winner, consuming 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.)
After questioning some of the logistics of the race — like whether the hot dog would be consumed at the starting line, which could lead to a head start for Chestnut, Spieth decided on the sprinter.
'I'm going with who can run faster because I think a hot dog can get wolfed down pretty quick,' he said, before posing an alternative. 'Now, if you said, '10 hot dogs and then run,' when does it even out?'
'Joey Chestnut would smoke him at 10 (hot dogs before running),' Spieth added. 'I think even two might be close.'
Saheeth Theegala reasoned that 'even if Joey runs a 15-second 100-meter,' the golfer still felt Chestnut would win.
'I think Usain, even if he eats (the hot dog) as fast as he could and swallows it, I don't see him eating it in under 8, 10 seconds,' he said, adding his final consensus is that Bolt finishing an entire hot dog will take longer than Chestnut's ability to run 100 meters.
Amid much internal debate and in-depth analysis, the pro golfers landed fairly divided over who would win the competition — ever so slightly favoring Chestnut. And the comment section under the TikTok video equally entertained the proposition.
'Joey is taking this without a doubt,' one user wrote.
'Do you people have any idea the amount of calories that Usain Bolt has to eat to maintain his performance level? He could put down a single hot (dog) pretty ... quick I imagine,' another argued.
While some found it wild to compare the Olympic medalist widely regarded as 'the fastest man in history' to the 17-time champion of Nathan's July Fourth competitive eating contest, some still theorized Chestnut would take home the gold this time around.
Other comments simply marveled at the 'phenomenal question' itself, with one user writing, 'that's the greatest hypothetical ever.'
'Whoever came up with this question deserves a raise,' another wrote.