Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, a former hot dog eating champion, was arrested after he jumped on stage at the Famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest and wrestled with police as a rival Joey Chestnut was being presented with the winner’s “mustard belt” for the fourth year running. The event drew between 40,000 and 50,000 spectators.
Mr Chestnut, from California, had won by eating 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes but had never had to compete against Mr Kobayashi, the sixth time champion, because the latter was involved in a contract dispute with the event’s organizers. After witnessing the drama involving Kobayashi, Chestnut said, “I feel bad for him.”
Chestnut claimed the mustard-yellow champion’s belt and a $20,000 purse but was disappointed with his own performance. The 26-year-old was aiming for a record 70 dogs in 10 minutes. Last year, he ate 68 dogs, four more than Kobayashi.
Mr Kobayashi, the world number three in the pursuit, had said that he wanted to take part in the July 4th event and his sudden appearance on stage was met by chants of “Let him eat! Let him eat!” from the crowd.
However, after grabbing a police barricade and refusing to let go, Kobayashi was handcuffed and taken into custody. Prosecutors said Kobayashi had been charged with obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, trespassing and disorderly conduct.
“I was there as a spectator, just to cheer on my buddies,” Kobayashi said through an interpreter outside court Monday. Fans chanted for him, and “in the heat of it, I jumped on the stage, hoping they would let me eat.”
Kobayashi, 32, had refused to sign an agreement with Major League Eating, the contest’s owner, because he said he wanted to be free to enter competitions held by other organizations.
A spokesman for Mr Kobayashi, who now lives in New York, said he only eats hot dogs in training but generally “eats healthy”.