A new competitive eating world record was set over the weekend when eater Joey Chestnut out-ate the competition by eating 49 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes. Sonya Thomas and Pat Bertoletti tied for second place with 37 sandwiches each. All three passed the former record of 36.5 sandwiches.
There is a video available here of the event, which was held at the Arena Football Fan Fest in Las Vegas. It is a fascinating sight - if mildly disgusting - for anyone who has never witnessed a professional eating competition. The crown cheers on the eaters while they battle the sandwiches, which an announcer describes as being glue-like. Sonya, who weighs 105 pounds, really has her technique down to a science and Chestnut, in a post match interview, describes how much concentration is needed to compete, given that your body doesn't really want to eat all that grilled cheese.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-12-2006 @ 1:03PM
Dr. Electro said...
So we celebrate gluttony in yet another way. I love grilled cheese sandwiches but I could never compete with that crowd. However, in my youth I won a Whopper eating contest at a Burger King grand opening. I surprised myself by eating 14 whoppers in a leisurely 30 minutes. My prize was a $50.00 Burger King gift certificate.
Dr. "won't do that again" Electro
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6-13-2006 @ 3:03PM
Franz Hemingbeck said...
In a world where many people are starving or struggle to find anything to eat on a daily basis, these food eating contests are pathetic and morally reprehensible. Jamming a lot of something in your piehole is not something to be admired.
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6-13-2006 @ 9:29PM
Mega Munch said...
I follow the "sport" of competitive eating (soon to make my "pro" debut) and I can tell you, that's a truly awesome feat!
Of course, I'm not one to take it TOO seriously (though it is hard to keep your tongue in your cheek when you're training for a shoo fly pie eating contest).
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