Sporting Triumph

The long wait for a homegrown champion at Wimbledon, the most British of sporting contests, continues. Here in the US, however, after six years of victories by a Japanese star, a Californian has triumphed at an event epitomizing modern America. In front of 50,000 spectators and televised live on national TV Joey Chestnut ended Takeru Kobayashi’s reign as Champion of Nathan’s Famous International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest. He ate 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes, smashing Kobayashi’s previous best of 53.5 dogs. This is equivalent to 20,394 calories, or over ten days of recommended calorie intake for a sedentary middle age male.