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15 of the Most Pained Facial Expressions from the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

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Competitors Vie For Ultimate Eating Prize At Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut, six-time defending champion of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Content, is pictured above in 2012 with a face full of hot dog, a wet bun and a beard of sloppy goo. As far as Nathan's contest photos go, it's a veritable glamour shot. Seems that ramming tens of thousands of calories down one's throat does not produce mantle-worthy portraiture.

Sonya Thomas (2003)

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Hot Dog Eating Contest At Coney Island

This, just five minutes into the melee.

Eric ‘Badlands’ Booker and then-reigning-champion Takeru Kobayashi (2003)

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Hot Dog Eating Contest At Coney Island

Someone needs to find the track listing for Badlands' "break yourself with hot dogs" playlist.

Badlands and Kobayashi (2009)

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Champions Compete In Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest

This year, with 50% more hot dog spittle.

Erik “The Red” Denmark (2007)

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Competitive Eaters Face Off In Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest

The "Red" stands for  "face full of un-chewed red meat."

Ed Krachie of Queens defends his title (1996)

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Still champ, Ed Krachie of Queens holds up his winner's belt

Meanwhile, Curtis Sliwa tries to choke down shame.

Chestnut (2006)

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Joey Chestnut from San Jose, California

Trying to manipulate his stomach bomb as he nears the 50-dog mark.

Kobayashi after his last victory (2006)

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Reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi groans as he holds the Mu

It hurts so good. (It may also hurt very badly.)

Kobayashi and Chestnut after a photo finish (2008)

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93rd Annual Nathan's Famous 4th Of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest

Kobayashi plays it cool as Chestnut tries a vice grip technique on his hot dog fetus.

Juliet Lee with Thomas (2011)

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2011 Nathan's Famous Fourth Of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest

WHERE DOES IT GO?

Tim "Eater X" Janus with Chestnut (2012)

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2012 Nathan's Famous Fourth Of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest

Hey ladies.

Early-career Chestnut, Badlands and Kobayashi? (1999)

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Contenders (l. to r.) German Bratwurst Eating Champ Frederic

Nope, it's actually it's their predecessors: real names (from L to R) Frederic Roller, from the Black Forest in Germany; Charles "Hungry" Hardy, a 320-pound Brooklyn corrections officer, and defending champion Hirofumi Nakajima of Japan.

Steve Addicks eyeing then-23-year-old Kobayashi (2003)

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Japan's Takeru Kobayashi (L), a 131 lbs. (59 kgs)

Had never seen a face hemorrhage before. Can check that off the list.

Sonya Thomas (2012)

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Competitors Vie For Ultimate Eating Prize At Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

They don't award points for keeping the mouth shut while chewing.

Kobayashi celebrating his victory (2004)

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Defending champ Takeru (Tsunami) Kobayashi (center) still ha

The also-rans cast a gaze downwards, somewhere between intense discomfort and vomiting.