Steve Keiner
Encyclopedia
Steven Keiner of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
was the 1999 winner of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
in Coney Island
, downing 20¼ hot dogs in 12 minutes.
Keiner's victory was somewhat of an upset, as he had never participated in competitive eating
before the qualifiers. Steve is one of only two non-Japanese
victors of the contest since 1997. Steven Keiner and newly victorious Joey Chestnut
are the two American's to hold the title since 1997. Keiner was unable to defend his title the following year, and lost to the Japanese competitive eater Kazutoyo Arai.
Though a Nathan's comeback is unlikely for Steve, the elder Keiner is not the only one with competitive eating aspirations. Steve's nephew Jason Keiner, a junior mini-marshmello eating champion in his home state of New Jersey (2001), has used the family legacy as a launching pad for a moderate level of success in unsanctioned international eating events. Jason's dominating victory at the Imitoto Celebration in Swaziland last December, is "only the beginning."
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
Egg Harbor Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 43,323, a growth of more than 40% since the previous enumeration....
was the 1999 winner of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American competitive-eating competition, which is run as a publicity gathering event by Shea Communications. It is held each July 4 at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original, and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in...
in Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, downing 20¼ hot dogs in 12 minutes.
Keiner's victory was somewhat of an upset, as he had never participated in competitive eating
Competitive eating
Competitive eating, or speed eating, is a sport in which participants compete against each other to consume large quantities of food in a short time period. Contests are typically less than 15 minutes in length, with the person consuming the most food being declared the winner...
before the qualifiers. Steve is one of only two non-Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
victors of the contest since 1997. Steven Keiner and newly victorious Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut
Joseph Christian "Jaws" Chestnut is an American competitive eater. The , engineering student is currently ranked first in the world by the International Federation of Competitive Eating...
are the two American's to hold the title since 1997. Keiner was unable to defend his title the following year, and lost to the Japanese competitive eater Kazutoyo Arai.
Though a Nathan's comeback is unlikely for Steve, the elder Keiner is not the only one with competitive eating aspirations. Steve's nephew Jason Keiner, a junior mini-marshmello eating champion in his home state of New Jersey (2001), has used the family legacy as a launching pad for a moderate level of success in unsanctioned international eating events. Jason's dominating victory at the Imitoto Celebration in Swaziland last December, is "only the beginning."