Takeru Kobayashi

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In 2006, Kobayashi set a record by devouring 53¾ frankfurters in 12 minutes to win the annual Independence Day hot dog eating competition on Coney Island.

The feat earned Takeru Kobayashi, 27, his sixth straight title in the event, held at the original Nathan's Famous hot dog stand on Brooklyn's seashore. His prize: the coveted Yellow Mustard Belt.

Kobayashi broke his record of 53½ hot dogs, set at the same competition two years ago.

His strongest competition was Joey Chestnut, a 220-pound civil engineering student from San Jose, Cal. Chestnut jumped to an early lead in the competition, sometimes jamming franks into his mouth with two hands as the crowd roared. Kobayashi passed Chestnut with about three minutes left in the contest. When the clock expired, Chestnut had swallowed 52 Nathan's franks -- not quite enough.

Kobayashi, his hair dyed yellow like a Nathan's billboard, vowed through an interpreter to return next year to conquer even more hot dogs than he did this time.

[edit] Stats

Kobayashi's winning marks since 2001
2006 53¾
2005 49
2004 53½
2003 44½
2002 50½
2001 50

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