Is Joey Chestnut elite?
Yes. Ten times over yes. One time over for each of his ‘Mustard Belts’ (yes that’s what it’s called, for real).
Joey Chestnut is elite. He is 6’1’’, 230 lbs of greatness that some hotdog deity put on this planet to do two things. Eat hot dogs and win.
For those who are unfamiliar with the demi-god that is Joey Chestnut and his career, here’s a quick synopsis:
2007 - J.C. stormed onto the scene by upsetting the only other competitive eater you’ve probably ever heard of, Kobayashi. In a performance reminiscent of a young Tom Brady beating the 2002 ‘Greatest Show On Turf’ Rams, Joey upset the heavily favorited six-time consecutive champion Kobayashi. This was only the beginning.
2008-14 - Greatness happened. Eight times consecutively it happened. More than once setting the world hot dog eating record…. Only to break it himself the next year. LeBron has made it to seven straight finals? Cool. Joey went to eight and won them all.
2015 - Heartbreak. I remember exactly where I was when it happened, just like most people do I’m sure. Up and coming competitive eater Matt Stonie shocked the world. He narrowed out Chestnut in a beautiful display of hotdog consumption with 62-60 dog win. People began to doubt the half human, half hotdog eating cyborg that is Joey Chestnut.
News
2016 - People were wrong. Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut stormed back and took his title in probably the greatest showing of patriotism ever displayed on the Fourth of July. Wolfing down 70 dogs in 10 minutes Chestnut once again returned to the top of the competitive eating mountain.
July 4th, 2017 - Just Joey being Joey, winning stuff, breaking records, being a champ. Also known as an average Tuesday for the man with as many rings he has fingers (**belts, but you get the analogy). 72 dogs in 10 mins and 10 years a champion. Oh and setting a new world hotdog eating record, again.
People like to debate a lot about “GOATs” (greatest of all time), LeBron James vs Michael Jordan, Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, Wayne Gretzky vs. (Well that’s kind of just him). Yet those don’t matter. None of them matter. In the world of competitive sports-ish. Joey is the GOAT of GOATs.
Chestnut is one of the greatest winners in our generation and probably the history of the world. Is Joey Chestnut elite?
Yes.
And you better put some respect on his name.