USA: Hot Dog Eating Competition Will Give Winners $ 10,000

Do you remember those weird “who can eat more” competitions, famous in American movies? Whether the answer is yes or no, the fact is that they do exist - and one of the most famous recurring events of its kind is about to receive one more of its editions.

The event is called Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, which takes place every year on Coney Island, United States, on Independence Day (July 4). The competition started in 1916 and since then has always taken place at a restaurant called Nathan's Famous.

The contest is open to the public, will be broadcast on US ESPN and has an estimated 50, 000 visitors. Winners in the men's and women's categories take home cash prizes ranging from $ 10, 000 (the equivalent of about $ 22, 153) for first place to $ 1, 000 (about $ 2, 215) for fifth.

Staring at the bar

Registration for the event is administered by the International Competitive Food Federation (IFCE) and participants must be at least 18 years old. Competitors will have to stand behind a table with the restaurant's hot dogs and drinks, beating the one who consumes the most sausage breads within ten minutes - each “athlete” will have a judge to record his or her score.

If a participant has a snack in the mouth when the time is up, it will be counted only if swallowed later. It is also permissible to break the snack into pieces and dip it in water to eat, but anyone who vomits in the middle of the competition will be summarily disqualified if their waste falls on the plate or table.

Participants will have to compete with previous years' champions, Joseph Christian “Jaws” Chestnut in the men's competition and Sony Thomas in the women. While the boy has won the contest more than eight times and even beat the world record by eating 69 snacks, the woman is called “the black widow” for her ability to defeat men four times her size. So, did you stare?