John Minchillo/Associated PressThere have been many dynasties throughout sports history. Few sports dynasties have been more dominant than Joey Chestnut's reign at the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.Chestnut travels to Brooklyn every Fourth of July and eats an amazing number of hot dogs. He has won the contest in each of the last five years, and 13 times in the past 14. He keeps improving, and he has now consumed 75 hot dogs in 2020.This year's 10-minute contest saw Chestnut eating 76 or more. The contest will be held on Sunday afternoon at Coney Island.This is everything you need to know before entering the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2021.Information about 2021 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating ContestDate: Sunday, July 4,Start Time: Noon ETTelevision: ESPNLive Streaming: Download the appReplays: 2 pm. ET (ESPNews); 4:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2), 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2); 6 p.m.The coronavirus pandemic affected the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, as it did most sports in 2020. It was held in Brooklyn, rather than a large crowd cheering as competitors ate an excessive number of hot dogs.However, this year things will return to normal. This may motivate Chestnut even more to perform and down more than the 75 hotdogs he consumed in 2020.Chestnut stated, per ESPN's David Purdum: "I hope I can find that perfect rhythm where I can keep pushing but I'm also comfortable." "Hopefully, 76 and 77 sounds possible."In 2015, Chestnut lost in the hot dog eating contest. Matthew Stonie had eaten 62 hot dogs while Chestnut had 60. In the five years since then, Chestnut has eaten more than 70 hot dogs in competition.It's unlikely that anyone else will be able to take the mustard belt from Chestnut, who has only improved at this competition. It will likely return to the waist of the 37 year-old.There will be a new winner this year in the women's competition. Miki Sudo, the seven-time reigning champion who ate an unprecedented 48.5 hot dogs last season, is pregnant and will not be participating in Sunday's competition.Michelle Lesco will be competing in the contest for the 10th consecutive year, with Sudo out. Her best performance was in 2017, when she consumed 32 hot dogs and came second to Sudo (41).While Lesco is the most likely winner of the women's category, she doesn't overlook the other contestants. This is especially true considering that there were many people who trained but didn't get to participate in last year's contest due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.During a recent appearance on PIX11 Morning News, Lesco stated that "there are competitors who have increased their numbers constantly."You can be sure that Chestnut will win, regardless of whether Lesco wins. It will be interesting to see if he can break another record. Although 76 hotdogs is quite a number, the 13-time champion is capable of eating that many.
