Joey Chestnut continues to bestride the world of competitive eating like the magnificent hot dog consuming colossus he is.

On Tuesday, the 33-year-old won the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the 10th time, breaking his own record by snarfing down 72 frankfurters and buns like they were mere cocktail sausages. “There’s no secret, I love to eat, and I love doing it, I love to win, so I had to figure out my body and push it to the limit,” Chestnut said after his victory.

The women’s competition was won by an equally fierce competitor: Miki Sudo’s immaculate consumption of 41 hot dogs was good enough to deliver her a fourth title.

ESPN (@espn) Among the greats. pic.twitter.com/WH3oMY6ktB

Thousands of spectators flocked to New York’s Coney Island to see the elite of the competitive eating world do battle in the annual Fourth of July contest. Five arrests were made after protestors attempted to unfurl a banner during the men’s competition. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had been handing our vegan hot dogs outside the event but said the arrests were not part of their campaign.

Chestnut’s victory was made all the more impressive by the fact that he saw off last year’s champion, and his fierce rival, Matt “The Megatoad” Stonie, who could only manage 48 franks and buns over the allotted 10 minutes.

Chestnut prepares for competition by fasting for 48 hours. “I slowly eat less and less and make sure I’m empty the day of,” he told the MLB Network last week. “Today [Friday] I’ll have a pretty big salad and tomorrow will be less. And Sunday and Monday, nothing.”

During the competition, the eaters are allowed to dip the dogs and buns in liquid to ease the food down their throats. After a competition, Chestnut needs even more liquids. “I’m thirsty,” he said. “It’s a lot of sodium. I’m drinking water that day, that night. I’m craving in the morning – or when I wake up later – I’m craving dairy.”