Current:Home > StocksNick Wehry responds to cheating allegations at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest -TrueNorth Capital Hub
Nick Wehry responds to cheating allegations at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
View
Date:2025-04-17 01:16:57
Nick Wehry, facing allegations of cheating at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, offered an explanation to USA TODAY Sports for his actions that have put him under scrutiny.
Pat Bertoletti won the contest with 58 hot dogs and Wehry finished fourth with a disputed total of 51.75.
The New York Post, citing two anonymous sources, reported Tuesday that video showed Wehry moved an additional empty plate onto the stack in front of him after the competition had ended, thereby increasing his score by five hot dogs.
The plates belonged to Sean Yeager, who ate 38.5 hot dogs during his debut at the annual contest on Coney Island in New York. Yeager finished seventh out of 14 contestants.
“I asked Sean how many (hot dogs) he got,’’ Wehry, 35, told USA TODAY Sports by text. “Said awesome job but it looked like more. Always recount…so we did. All of us at one point or another have been shorted a plate, double plated etc.’’
The plates, served to competitors during the event, hold five dogs and buns. After the contest, empty plates are used to determine the official tally of hot dogs and buns consumed.
The extra plate boosted Wehry’s total to 51.75 from 46.75, according to the allegations.
Yeager, who competed while standing next to Wehry, told USA TODAY Sports he did not want to comment “until someone can help us get more video (of the incident) to put this thing to bed.’’
Major League Eating (MLE), which runs the Nathan’s contest, said it investigated the matter and was taking no action against Wehry, who received $1,000 for finishing fourth.
“After being made aware of the accusation stemming from last Thursday’s contest, MLE investigated the incident, carefully considering the complaint and reviewing the videos provided to us,’’ MLE said in a statement. “Like many other professional sports leagues, it is our policy to not overturn judges’ decisions after the final results have been recorded.
“Earlier today, Nick Wehry asked MLE to lower his score to 46.75 based on his touching another eater's plates. MLE has agreed to adjust the official count. Wehry remains the 4th place finisher of the hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2024.”
Wehry is the fiancé of Nathan’s 10-time women’s champion Miki Sudo, who this year set a women’s record by eating 51 hot dogs and buns. Until this year, Wehry had not been credited with eating 50 or more hot dogs at Nathan's.
While Wehry denied cheating, he did say, “...most of the time I think competitors accept that things happen and if I wasn’t caught in the moment, no different than other sports it is what it is and stays “on the field’’ vs whining to the media for (what you assume)…is cheating to try to take someone down that you don’t like.’’
He speculated that jealousy of Sudo’s success could have led to the allegations of cheating.
“…people sometimes don’t like success, or positive media attention that miki and I may get. So this would be a good way to derail that. But who knows. I’m not accusing anybody because that would be assuming.’’
On why the allegations surfaced, Wehry also said, “Maybe I’m not likable. I have silly hair and wear dumb clothes and fanny packs and pit vipers (sunglasses). Maybe I’m abrasive at times. I’ll sign those dotted lines, but I’m not a cheater.’’
Contributing: Lorenzo Reyes
Follow Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11
veryGood! (913)
Related
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Sam Schmidt opens paralysis center in Indianapolis to rehabilitate trauma victims
- Horoscopes Today, September 29, 2024
- Asheville, North Carolina, officials warn water system could take weeks to repair
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Nearly $32 million awarded for a large-scale solar project in Arkansas
- DreamWorks Animation at 30: Painting a bright path forward with ‘The Wild Robot’
- Sephora Hair Sale: Save Up to 50% on Top Products Like Vegamour Hair Gro Serum & Living Proof Dry Shampoo
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Wendy Williams Says It’s About Time for Sean Diddy Combs' Arrest
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Travis Kelce Shows Off His Hosting Skills in Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? Trailer
- Dead inmate identified as suspect in 1995 disappearance of 6-year-old Morgan Nick
- Texas set to execute Garcia Glen White, who confessed to 5 murders. What to know.
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Man destroys autographed Taylor Swift guitar he won at charity auction
- Cleveland Browns rookie DT Mike Hall Jr. suspended five games following August arrest
- Pete Rose, MLB's all-time hits leader who earned lifetime ban, dead at 83
Recommendation
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
Brittany Cartwright Shares Update on Navigating Divorce With Jax Taylor
What should I do when an employee's performance and attitude decline? Ask HR
Why was Pete Rose banned for life from MLB? Gambling on games was his downfall
Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
Is there such thing as healthy coffee creamer? How to find the best option.
'McNeal' review: Robert Downey Jr.’s new Broadway play is an endurance test
Fran Drescher Reveals How Self-Care—and Elephants!—Are Helping Her Grieve Her Late Father