Joey Chestnut neutralizes protester in middle eating contest

Returning champion Joey Chestnut smiles as he celebrates his victory in the men's round of the 2022 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. Anthony Behar

Watch: Joey Chestnut neutralizes protester in middle of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 7/4/22

Joey Chestnut won for the 15th time at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest on Monday. While he did not break his own record, the performance may have been his most impressive ever for other reasons.

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

You can see another angle below:

Joey Chestnut takes down heckler during anual hotdog eating contest. pic.twitter.com/MAehwRFqjc

— coh (@coh_doodle) July 4, 2022

Chestnut also dealt with a serious injury leading up to and during the Hot Dog Eating Contest. Between that and the protestor he manhandled, the 38-year-old continues to make the case that competitive eaters are true athletes.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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