Bib Sheet

Nagano, Japan
Age: 31
Weight: 160

• Brats: 58 Johnsonville Brats / Brat Days / 10 Minutes/ Aug. 5, 2006

• Cow Brains: 57 (17.7 pounds) / 15 minutes

• Lobster Rolls: 41 Lobster Rolls in Boston challenge / 10 minutes/Sept. 23, 2006

• Rice Balls: 20 pounds rice balls / 30 minutes

Takeru Kobayashi is one of the most recognizable sports icons of the 21st century. Certainly a legend in the world of competitive eating, he is the one man that every up and coming gurgitator wants to beat.

Kobayashi won the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest six years in a row, until 2007 when Joey Chestnut did what no American had done before. Chestnut dethroned Kobayashi, beating him by three hot dogs and buns--66 to 63. After suffering from a serious jaw injury, the great Kobayashi lost to Pat Bertoletti and Joey Chestnut in the Spike TV MLE Chowdown and was unable to defend his title in the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship.

All eyes will definitely be on this great champion when July rolls around in 2008.