Australian James Webb is going for 60 at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
'My whole life changed forever after that first contest in New York. Three years later, I'm talking to you from the US as the fourth-ranked competitive eater in the world.'
52 hot dogs in 10 minutes
53 Texas sausages in ten minutes
70 glazed doughnuts in ten minutes
276 buffalo wings in 12 minutes
224 grilled chicken wings in eight minutes
350 doughnut holes in eight minutes
6.1kgs of fudge in eight minutes
1kg mozzarella cheese without using hands in 1minute 22.59 seconds (a Guinness world record)
Just as Australian Josh Giddey has become a household name with NBA fans, and Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl winner Jordan Mailata is a big deal, Webb, who now calls Dallas home, is recognised by the locals on a daily basis. He was interviewed by ESPN and TMZ this week.
His ability to eat quickly was only discovered after a trip to the Khartoum Hotel in Cessnock, in the NSW Hunter region, in 2021. Webb became the first person to devour the pub's 5kg, $60 burger in less than 30 minutes. Word spread about his feats, especially via social media, which caught the attention of a few competitive eaters in the US.
Webb was invited to a pizza-eating contest in Blacksburg, Virginia, 'which was in the middle of nowhere, a bit like Cessnock', and finished second with 11 slices in ten minutes. A corn-eating contest in Florida followed, where he consumed 38 corn cobs in ten minutes, before a hot dog qualifier in Oakland, California, paved the way for his invite to New York.
This year's competition marks the return of 16-time champion Joey Chestnut, who holds the Nathan's record of 76 hot dogs.
Joey Chestnut at the 2021 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Credit: AP
Chestnut was banned from the 2024 event after he struck up a partnership with Impossible Foods (who make vegan hot dogs), with Nathan's not allowing competitors to support rival brands.
The 41-year-old from California has consumed 1219 hot dogs in 19 appearances at the competition.
Webb has more than 1.8 million followers on TikTok. He makes a point of getting his heart checked and cholesterol tested every year when he returns to Australia.
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The only health condition from eating so quickly is a nasty dose of 'heartburn', and a shocking habit of 'gripping a glass or cup of drink' every time he has a meal at a restaurant, given the importance of liquid helping flush food into the stomach.
Webb said he relied little on chewing, and more on the fluid, which could be anything the competitor chose, as long as it was not alcoholic.
'The funny thing is, I don't even like hot dogs, I don't even know why Americans like them – they're foul and terrible, but sold everywhere here,' Webb said.
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