American hot dog-eating champion Joey Chestnut has shown himself a man of many talents, claiming his 15th career win, while fighting off a proster mid-contest.
A stage-crashing intruder stormed the platform, but was put in a headlock and thrown aside by Chestnut, leaving fans gasping in shock at Coney Island, New York.
The protester was seen holding a sign reading 'Expose Smithfield's Death Star', an apparent stand against pork producer Smithfield Foods.
The 38-year-old paid the distraction no mind, casually carrying on with his hot dog eating, eventually consuming 63 in 10 minutes to claim the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July title.
While that was 13 fewer than the record 76 he crushed last year, it was more than enough to hold off the competition for the seventh consecutive year.
The fan favourite arrived at the event on crutches, with his right leg in a cast, but admits he was always confident.
"It hurts when I walk, but I can stand and I can eat, and I’m going to push it to the limit," Chestnut told ESPN before the contest.
