[imagesource: Bobby Bank / Getty Images]

Joey Chestnut is to the world of hot dog eating what Lionel Messi is to football.

He’s the finest competitor the ‘sport’ has ever seen, and his hold on the title of GOAT (greatest of all time) was strengthened yesterday when he claimed his 15th win at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

Battling an injured right leg, Chestnut wouldn’t let anything come between him and success, smashing 63 hot dogs and buns to set himself apart from the crowded field.

He also had to battle an interruption shortly after necking hot dog number 17. Below via Sports Illustrated:

…protesters stormed the platform dressed in Star Wars garb and holding signs reading “Expose Smithfield’s Death Star,” an apparent protest against pork producer Smithfield Foods.

Chestnut was uninterested in being thrown off his stride. Rather than seek the help of event security, he handled the situation himself.

It was a classic headlock into dismissive toss one-two move from the world champ:

I think it was the shoulder charge on Chestnut that really upped the ante:

Chestnut just obliterated him🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/dry7Oy8KZK

— jonah block (@JonahBlock05) July 4, 2022

Incredibly, this was Chestnut’s seventh consecutive win and his 15th win in the past 16 years. More from CBS News:

“It’s beautiful to be back here” in front of a throng of spectators, Chestnut said after his feat, which the 38-year-old managed while wearing a surgical boot because of a leg injury.

“It hurts, but I was in the zone for a little bit. I was ignoring it,” said Chestnut, but the pain eventually slowed his pace in the 10-minute competition.

He hit 76 hot dogs and buns last year but you only have to beat the field you’re up against and he did just that.

Women’s record-holder Miki Sudo managed to smash 40 wieners and buns to win the women’s title, having skipped last year’s contest due to pregnancy.

[sources:sportsillustrated&cbs]