CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. – The No. 6 ranked professional eater in the world, and by far the tallest at an imposing 6-9, former Clayton State men's basketball player
Gideon Oji (Imane-in-Koji, Nigeria) returned to the corner of Surf and Stillwell and finished 6-of-21 in the 2018 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The event aired live and worldwide on ESPN2 and will air again on tape delay on that channel several times throughout the day.
Competing against the best eaters in the world on the biggest stage, Oji scarfed 37.5 hot dogs and buns. That placed him behind 11-time champion Joey Chestnut (74, New World Record), Carmen Cincotti (64), Darron Breeden (43), Geoff Esper (41) and 2016 champion Matt Stonie (40). His 37.5 HDB's (Hot Dogs and Buns) were one half shy of equaling his personal best of 38 that he set two years ago at Coney.
Directly prior to the competition, Oji was introduced to crowd and viewing audience by President of Major League Eating, and Fourth of July staple, George Shea, who had this to say about Oji upon his introduction.
"At 6-feet, 9-inches tall, seven feet from hand to hand, the Kale Eating Champion of the World, Ladies and Gentlemen ranked No. 6 in the world, 36 hot dogs and buns, one and one-thirds gallons of green chile stew to become the Green Chile Stew Eating Champion of the World. From Zaire, Nigeria, by way of Morrow, Georgia, GIDEON OJI!"
Perhaps even more impressive, and timely, was the comment from the ESPN 2 broadcast crew that directly followed that intro. "At 6-9 he was a Laker before LeBron, he played DII ball at Clayton State. The Truth they call him."
In just his third full year of professional eating, Oji has established himself as one of the top competitors in the world in a number of disciplines. Those include being the World Champion for both Kale and Green Chile Stew along with career earnings of $42,000 and the sixth most in 2017 with $18,700.
It would is also the fourth consecutive year that Oji was the lone former NCAA student-athlete competing, representing Division II, in the 103
rd Annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
2018 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Final Results
1. Joey Chestnut – 74 (World Record – Prev. 72 in 2017)
2. Carmen Cincotti – 63
3. Darron Breeden – 43
4. Geoffrey Esper – 41
5. Matt Stonie – 40
6. Gideon Oji – 37.5
7. Max Suzuki – 34
8. Adrian Morgan – 33
9. Juan Rodriguez – 32
10. Nick Wehry – 31
11. Rich LeFevre – 28
12. Derek Jacobs – 27
T12. Juan Neave – 27
14. Matt Hazzard – 25
15. George Chiger – 24.75
T16. Steve Hendry – 24
T16. Pablo Martinez – 24
T18. Erik Denmark – 21.5
T18. Ronnie Hartman – 21.5
20. Jim Reeves – 21
21. Badlands Booker – 20
Gideon Oji Video Introduction - Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
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| Former Laker Gideon Oji's Introduction on ESPN2's Worldwide Broadcast (7/4/18) |
Gideon Oji Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Photo Gallery
