Competitive eating

Competitive eating is a sport whose main goal is the quick and vast consumption of food. The type of food varies, although it is primarily focussed on fast-food. One commonly used item is hot dogs. This sport is male-dominated, although there are a handful of women gurgitators, notably Sonya Thomas. A big belly isn't necessarily an advantage in the sport, as physical fitness plays an important factor too in the upper spheres of the professional circuit.

Related Topics:
Hot dog - Sonya Thomas

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The sport is most popular in the USA. Eating contests are often held as part of a county fair in the United States, and as such are very popular in some rural areas. The governing body is the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE).

Related Topics:
USA - County fair - International Federation of Competitive Eating

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Other eating contests can involve challenges to eat a very large food item, such as a giant pizza or a massive hamburger, in a relatively short amount of time. Often, if the challenge is put on by a restaurant, the justprize is that the winner does not have to pay for the large amount of food they just consumed.

Related Topics:
Pizza - Hamburger - Restaurant

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Another unusual thing about the sport is that, if you sign up or sometimes just show up early enough, you can immediately be competing against the best in the world. For example, "Super" Paul Barlow Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia was standing in the audience waiting for the hot dog contest when two vacancies opened up. He quickly volunteered, wanting only a T-shirt, and was pitted aginst two nationally ranked eaters, Dale Boone and Ken Tittle, and now is a regular on the Georgia circuit. Paul states " It's fun, filling, and I still get free T-shirts!".

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The culture of competitive eating is elucidated in the documentary film , directed by Danielle Franco and Chris Kenneally.

Related Topics:
Danielle Franco - Chris Kenneally

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The most famous competitive eater is Takeru Kobayashi.

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