Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo win Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest

The History of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

Competitive eaters from around the world met Wednesday on Coney Island for the annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Update 1:05 p.m. EDT July 4: Joey "Jaws" Chestnut topped the men's field Wednesday to win his 11th Mustard Yellow International Belt.

He consumed 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes, setting a new world record, according to NY1.

Update 11:55 a.m. EDT July 4: Reigning women's champ Miki Sudo reclaimed her title Wednesday by gobbling 37 hot dogs in 10 minutes. She managed to down 41 in the same amount of time last year.

The men’s competition is scheduled to start at noon.

Original report: The contest, which takes place every Fourth of July, is one of the world's best-known competitive eating events. The women's event is scheduled to start at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday with the men's contest following at noon.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will compete against 20 other men in an attempt to retain the Mustard Yellow International Belt for an 11th year. He set the Coney Island record last year by gobbling 72 dogs and he holds the world record, with 73 dogs consumed in 10 minutes.

Ten-time and defending Nathan's Famous Men's Champion Joey Chestnut poses with 72 hot dogs during Nathan's Famous International Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest weigh-in at the Empire State Building on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, in New York.

Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

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Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

On the women’s side of the competition, Miki Sudo is aiming to claim her fifth title in a row. She downed 41 hot dogs in 10 minutes to top the field last year, setting a new personal best for her. She will face off against 19 other women Wednesday, including Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, who holds the world record at 45 dogs eaten in 10 minutes.