Ex-hot dog speed-eating champion arrested after storming the stage at Fourth Of July competition

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By Mail Foreign Service

Arrested: Takeru Kobayashi is handcuffed by police after storming the speed-eating event yesterday in New York's Coney Island


A former speed-eating champion has been arrested after storming the stage at the world-famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York yesterday.

Takeru Kobayashi was banned from this year’s Fourth Of July event at Nathan's hot dog stand on Coney Island – but apparently could not resist temptation.

The 32-year-old from Japan, who smashed all previous U.S. records in 2001when he downed 50 weiners together with buns, had refused to sign a contract with organising body 'Major League Eating'.


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Kobayashi is led away from the event wearing a 'Free Kobi' T-shirt


Kobayashi – dubbed ‘The Tsunami’ - was handcuffed by police after he jumped over a barrier while the crowd chanted: ‘Let him eat!’

Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut earlier won the contest for the fourth year running by consuming 54 hot dogs in just 10 minutes.

Chestnut currently hold the world record of 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes, set in 2007.

On his Japanese-language blog, Kobayashi said he wanted to be free to enter contests sanctioned by other groups.


'Let him eat': The crowds at the annual speed eating event cheer Kobayashi as he allegedly storms the stage


Champion: Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut won the contest after eating 54 hotdogs in 10 minutes


But a few days ago, he told Japan's Kyodo News: ‘I really want to compete in the [Coney Island] event.’

Wearing a black T-shirt that said ‘Free Kobi’, Mr Kobayashi mingled with the crowd, standing inside a police-barricaded pen just under the stage.

When the eating ended, he slipped up the stage stairs.


Kobayashi mingling with the crowd before he was arrested


Several security officers appeared and tried to usher him off.

He grabbed a metal police baton with both hands, clutching it tightly as the officers pulled at him.

Finally, they dragged him down the stairs, with Kobayashi resisting.

He was expected to spend the night in jail awaiting an appearance in Brooklyn Criminal Court on charges of resisting arrest, trespassing and obstructing governmental administration.



source: dailymail
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