Joey Chestnut devours 63 franks to win 2022 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, his 15th victory in 16 years

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Joey Chestnut may have dramatically entered Monday’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest walking on crutches. But after another stirring performance before the Coney Island crowd, Chestnut had enough fans ready to carry him off the stage he just dominated – once again.

Chestnut’s ruptured tendon injury, combined with a series of personal setbacks including the recent loss of his “first coach” mother, Alicia, didn’t deter the 38-year-old champion, who devoured 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes Monday at the annual Independence Day event. Despite falling short of his own record of 76 dogs eaten last year, Chestnut put on another clinic to claim the Mustard Belt, out-eating second-place finisher Geoffrey Esper (47½ hot dogs).

Chestnut, who goes by “Jaws,” has now won seven in a row and 15 of the last 16 hot dog eating contests since taking down six-time defending champion Takeru Kobayashi in 2007, with his only loss in 2015 to Matt Stonie.