Joey Chestnut, competitive eater, returns to Nathan's Famous Hot Dog eating contest in Coney Island after sponsorship tiff.

The world’s No. 1 competitive eater has declared his return to the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog eating contest after his absence last year over a contract dispute.

Joey Chestnut, who has won the competition 16 times, announced via a three-part post on the social media platform X that he would be "be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands!"

George Shea, the chair of Major League Eating, told Newsday: "We are very excited to have Joey back at the contest," adding "This is going to be the best contest in the history of sports, and already the fan response is through the roof."

The competition, which takes place at Brooklyn's Coney Island on Independence Day, draws thousands each year to watch competitors consume as many hot dogs as they can in just 10 minutes. Chestnut, 41, currently holds the world record at 76 hot dogs, which he set during the 2021 contest.

Last year was the first time since 2015 that someone other than Chestnut won the competition; the 40-year-old Chicago native Patrick Bertoletti took first place with 58 hot dogs, earning his first men’s title.

Chestnut’s relationship with Nathan’s and MLE started to fray last June when he signed a deal with Impossible Foods, which specializes in plant-based meat substitutes. He was subsequently banned from participating by MLE, and although it was later reversed, he instead gobbled hot dogs with soldiers at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

Now it appears the parties are back in good graces.

"I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I’m grateful we’ve been able to find common ground," Chestnut also said in his post.

"We’re pleased that everybody was able to come together," Shea added. "Joey, obviously, is a great guy and competitor."

With AP