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Takeru Kobayashi, a six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, has announced his retirement from competitive eating. According to TMZ, He revealed this decision in the Netflix documentary "Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut," citing a need to focus on his health and repair the damage inflicted on his body over the past twenty years.
Kobayashi gained fame by winning his first contest in 2001 and securing the title five more times before being dethroned by Joey Chestnut in 2007.
The rivalry between Kobayashi and Chestnut became legendary, but it came to an abrupt end in 2010 due to a contract dispute with Major League Eating. Kobayashi even made headlines by being arrested after hopping onstage as a spectator at the 2010 contest. Despite continuing to showcase his eating power in various events, he never competed against Chestnut again.
Kobayashi decided to retire from competitive eating after experiencing a loss of appetite and the ability to smell food, which served as a wake-up call. He expressed his desire to live a healthy and long life, stating this as the primary reason for his decision to quit the sport.