An animal rights activist protests while defending champion Joey Chestnut competes in the 2022 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island on July 04, 2022. Chestnut put another protestor in a chokehold, then resumed eating. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/ Getty Images)

Protestor interference at Hot Dog Eating Contest causes refunds on Joey Chestnut 'over'

Originally posted on Field Level Media | Last updated 7/4/22

Joey Chestnut devoured 63 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, extending his record to 15 career titles Monday in New York.

An apparent animal rights activist ran onto the stage in Coney Island and briefly stood next to Chestnut during the competition holding a sign that read “Expose Smithfield’s Deathstar.” In the middle of gobbling down one of the 63 hot dogs and buns he ate, Chestnut put the man in a chokehold and slammed him to the ground.

Joey Chestnut… DAWG pic.twitter.com/dNuDsSDuWB
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 4, 2022

The brief interruption led DraftKings and FanDuel to issue a refund on all single bets on "Joey Chestnut. Over 74.5 Hot Dogs Eaten."

With the disruption during Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, we will be refunding all single bets on Joey Chestnut Over 74.5 Hot Dogs Eaten pic.twitter.com/AyFcW26e3z
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) July 4, 2022

Due to a brief interference at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, we've decided to refund all straight bets on Joey Chestnut to eat Over 74.5 hot dogs

(Refunds will be issued within 24 hours) pic.twitter.com/npg5M19GUU
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) July 4, 2022

Chestnut, 38, chowed down at a far slower pace than last year, when he broke his record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns. He competed despite a leg injury that was causing him pain and led him to wear a protective boot.

Chestnut was still comfortably clear of Geoffrey Esper, the No. 2-ranked competitive eater in Major League Eating, who finished second with 47 1/2 dogs and buns.

Miki Sudo ate 40 dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win the women's championship for the eighth time in her career, a women's record. Sudo returned to the competition after sitting out in 2021 because she was pregnant.

Michelle Lesco, the 2021 women's champion, was a distant second at 26.

(Yardbarker staff contributed to this report.)

This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.

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