Joey Chestnut’s amazing journey in competitive eating feels like an epic tale of endurance. Throughout the years, he’s tackled just about every challenge that comes his way—from scarfing down record-breaking amounts of hot dogs at Nathan’s Fourth of July Contest to demolishing ribs, wings, tacos, and so much more.

Nathan’s has seen Chestnut snag over 15 titles; who could forget his jaw-dropping 76 hot dogs-and-buns record in 2021? He’s really made a name for himself in the world of Major League Eating. Even so, not every contest has been a walk in the park and even the so-called “Greatest Eater of All Time” has faced moments that almost pushed him to his limits.

On the Pardon My Take podcast, Joey Chestnut shared a story, saying, “I did crab cakes in Delaware, and, oh, this casino, they did us dirty. They had them all sitting out there, and they were, as soon as we got on stage, it was, you could smell fish, and, like, people got sick during the contest. I got sick right after the contest. It was the closest I’ve ever been to getting disqualified, and it turned me off to the food for like two years. And so I—it’s weird because, like, it was the grossest contest.”

Even the most famous athletes have their off days, and for Chestnut, the situation in Delaware wasn’t really about losing—it was more about facing the boundaries of his body and mind. It actually took him two whole years before he could enjoy crab cakes again, which shows how much it affected him.

Nevertheless, during that day, Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas emerged victorious after a remarkable 12-minute performance of 40 crab cakes. Chestnut was right there in second place with 38 crab cakes, not too far behind. So, what’s he doing to get ready for his latest comeback?

Joey Chestnut is ready for his grand comeback

Joey Chestnut is making his return to the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest this Fourth of July! So, what really went down last year? Chestnut teamed up with Impossible Foods, a rival brand that produces plant based hot dogs. Because of this conflict of interest, the organizers of Nathan’s hot dog eating contest, Major League Eating, could not allow him to participate in the 2024 edition. Especially considering his defection came after he’d spent years competing at Nathan’s, winning the mustard yellow belt a record 16 times.

“It’s a long-standing rule not to represent a rival brand,” said MLE co-founder George Shea. “Michael Jordan can’t go to Adidas and say that Air Jordans are great.”

Now that the 1-year ban has been served, he and Major League Eating have finally sorted everything out. Chestnut took to his social media to share the exciting news, saying, “I’m thrilled to be returning to the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.”

This announcement really got a lot of fans buzzing about his return. Shea also weighed in on his return, saying, “I think it’s the return of the greatest competitive eater of all time to the biggest competitive eating event of all time. So I don’t think it gets much bigger in any sport. I mean, this guy is the greatest performer we’ve ever seen in Coney Island and in competitive eating.” As the competition approaches, the excitement is building, and we’ll just have to wait and see if Chestnut can snag the crown to extend his record.