CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. – Ranked No. 6 in the world and competing against the best eaters in the world on the biggest stage, former Clayton State men's basketball player Gideon Oji (Imane-in-Koji, Nigeria) delivered a sixth place finish at the 2017 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The event aired live on ESPN2 before a tape delay airing on ESPN.
 
Competing in his third straight Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Oji downed 36 hot dogs and buns, just two shy of his personal best of 38 from last year's event. That placed him behind 10-time champion Joey Chestnut (72, Event Record), Carmen Cincotti (60), Matt Stonie (48), Geoff Esper (44.5) and Darron Breeden (38.5).
 
Directly prior to the competition, Oji was introduced to crowd and viewing audience by President of Major League Eating George Shea, who had this to say about Oji upon his introduction.
 
"At 6-feet, 9-inches tall, ranked No. 6 in the world, the Kale Eating Champion of the World, from Zaire, Nigeria, now from Morrow, Georgia, GIDEON OJI!"
 
Oji has improved in leaps and bounds since his first appearance in 2015 when he finished tied for 13^th with 19 hot dogs and buns. Last year he improved to 38 HDB's and a fourth place finish before coming in sixth with 36 this year against a stacked field. He has also been a witness to history in each of those years as Chestnut twice set the event record (70 in 2016, 72 in 2017) and Stonie pulled the ultimate upset with a win in 2015.
 
It would also be the third consecutive year that Oji was the lone former NCAA student-athlete competing, representing Division II, in the 101^st Annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
 




















2017 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Final Results
1. Joey Chestnut – 72 (Event Record)
2. Carmen Cincotti – 60
3. Matt Stonie – 48
4. Geoff Esper – 44.5
5. Darron Breeden – 38.5
6. Gideon Oji – 36
7. Adrian Morgan – 34
T8. Yasir Salem – 33
T8. Juan Rodriquez – 33
10. Rich LeFevre – 29
11. Erik Denmark – 25
12. Pablo Martinez – 23
13. Steve Hendry – 22.5
T14. Eric "Badlands" Booker – 22
T14. Jim Reeves – 22
T14. Josh Miller – 22
17. Derek Jacobs – 20.5
T18. Juan Neave – 20
T18. Brian Dudzinkski – 20
20. Matthew Cohen – 16
21. Pedram Esmaeelzadeh – 14.5