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

Getty Images 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

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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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This, just five minutes into the melee.

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

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

Badlands and Kobayashi (2009)

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This year, with 50% more hot dog spittle.

Erik “The Red” Denmark (2007)

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

Ed Krachie of Queens defends his title (1996)

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Meanwhile, Curtis Sliwa tries to choke down shame.

Chestnut (2006)

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

Kobayashi after his last victory (2006)

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

Kobayashi and Chestnut after a photo finish (2008)

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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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WHERE DOES IT GO?

Tim "Eater X" Janus with Chestnut (2012)

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Hey ladies.

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

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

Sonya Thomas (2012)

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

Kobayashi celebrating his victory (2004)

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