Joey Chestnut from Westfield, Indiana, broke his own record at the men’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday; Michelle Lesco from Tucson, Arizona broke the women’s record.

Chestnut ate 76 hotdogs in 10 minutes. In last year’s competition – which was held indoors and had no cheering crowds because of the COVID-19 pandemic – he ate 75 hotdogs.

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“It just felt good,” he said in an ESPN interview after he won on Sunday. “Even if I was uncomfortable, having everybody cheer me and push me, it made me feel good.”

Lesco was able to eat a bit over 30 hotdogs in 10 minutes. She said her victory was “an amazing feeling.”

The women’s champion and record-holder Miki Sudo did not make an appearance this year because she is expecting a baby soon with fellow competitor Nick Wehry, who competed in this year’s championship.

This event is held annually, every Fourth of July and takes place outside Nathan’s flagship shop in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood. Due to COVID restrictions, this year’s location was changed to a minor league baseball stadium in Maimonides Park with 5,000 spectators.

Chestnut said he missed the crowd last year.

“I’ve been looking forward to this all year,” he said before the competition.

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