Cranberry juice and minimal chewing. That's how Sydney man James Webb said he was able to eat 45-and-a-half hot dogs in just 10 minutes.
The massive feat landed the 36-year-old a podium finish at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York.
He finished behind Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 46-and-a-half hot dogs, and 17-time champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, who managed to finish 70-and-a-half.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast after the competition, Webb described himself as "a little bit tired and hot dogged out".
The competition comes after months of interesting training. As Webb described it, he had to "eat more to eat more".
"So, grill up a bunch of hot dogs, line them up, and set the timer and off you go," Webb said.
"It's been a crazy month of every second day eating hot dogs.
"To be honest, I'm kind of glad it's over for another year."
As a former gym owner, Webb is familiar with training.
"I love lifting weights, I love training. But I also love to eat," he said.
"So, trying to balance the two lifestyles — it's a fun challenge."
Webb first rose to competitive eating notoriety after finishing a 5 kilogram hamburger with fries, wedges and onion rings in 27 minutes and 37 seconds at the Khartoum Hotel in Cessnock in 2021. He is the only person to do so in under 30 minutes.
From there, he has become Australian #1 and world #4 in Major League eating and holds seven records, including 70 glazed donuts in eight minutes, 338 pistachios in eight minutes and 224 Chicken Wings in 10 minutes.
"[It's] crazy how a random burger challenge on a random Saturday afternoon had such an impact," Webb said.
"It's changed my whole life, my whole family's life. Eating is my life now."
He said the competitions have led to some pretty cool things.
"We're in New York City as a family on the Fourth of July, which is pretty significant for the Americans.
"So to be a part of that in New York City, competitive eating has got me here, you know? So [I'm] super grateful."
Chestnut returns
Alongside Webb on the hot dog podium was world #1 Major League eater Joey Chestnut.
He returned to the hot dog contest after missing last year's due to a contract dispute over a brand deal with plant-based meat company Impossible Foods.
Chestnut, 41, holds the title for the hot dog competition after eating 76 in 2021.
This year marked the 17th win in 20 appearances for the Westfield, Indiana, eater at the internationally televised competition.
"I wish I ate a couple more. Sorry guys," Chestnut told the New York crowd.
"I'll be back next year."
Defending champion in the women's division, Miki Sudo of Tampa, Florida, won her 11th title, downing 33 dogs, besting a dozen competitors. Last year, she ate a record 51 links. She also was apologetic for her performance.
"I feel like I let the fans down a little bit. I heard people in the crowd saying, 'Go for 52,'" Sudo told ESPN.
"Obviously, I'm always setting my goals high, but the hot dogs weren't cooperating. For some reason, the buns felt larger today."
The annual eat-a-thon, held outside the original Nathan's Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, has been running since 1972.
Chestnut bested 14 fellow competitors from across the US and the world, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Ontario, England and Brazil.
ABC/AP
