Move Over Carly - Sonya's The Real Hero



Ballet + eating disorders = ratings bonanza & patriotism run amuck. If you enjoyed the gymnastics, hey, that's great. I don't think less of you for it. But once again, I must protest on behalf of the men and women putting their mouths & stomachs on the line in the cutthroat world of competitive eating.

from the Associated Press :

America's top speed-eater wolfed down 38 lobsters in 12 minutes Saturday to win the World Lobster Eating Contest.

Sonya Thomas, of Alexandria, Va., won $500 and a trophy belt for her efforts, consuming 9.76 pounds of lobster meat. She bested runner-up Jason ''Crazy Legs'' Conti at 7.65 pounds and ''Hungry Charles'' Hardy of New York at 7.03 pounds.




(Thomas, in training)

Each contestant had a partner cracking the shells and pulling out the meat. Eleven competitors ate as many lobsters as they could in a 12-minute period, devouring a total of 300 pounds.

''I have a natural ability because of my stomach capacity,'' said Thomas, who weighs a mere 105 pounds. ''I could eat more, but something else not a lobster.''

The competition, only in its second year, sought to elevate Maine into the big leagues of competitive eating, alongside New York's Coney Island with its Nathan's Famous hot dogs and New Orleans with its oysters.

This year's competition at the Pilot House Grill & Boatyard was sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating, which ranked Thomas the country's top speed-eater.

Sonya Thomas, of Alexandria, Va., won $500 and a trophy belt for her efforts, consuming 9.76 pounds of lobster meat. She bested runner-up Jason ''Crazy Legs'' Conti at 7.65 pounds and ''Hungry Charles'' Hardy of New York at 7.03 pounds.

Each contestant had a partner cracking the shells and pulling out the meat. Eleven competitors ate as many lobsters as they could in a 12-minute period, devouring a total of 300 pounds.

''I have a natural ability because of my stomach capacity,'' said Thomas, who weighs a mere 105 pounds. ''I could eat more, but something else not a lobster.''

The competition, only in its second year, sought to elevate Maine into the big leagues of competitive eating, alongside New York's Coney Island with its Nathan's Famous hot dogs and New Orleans with its oysters.

This year's competition at the Pilot House Grill & Boatyard was sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating, which ranked Thomas the country's top speed-eater.

Thomas was coming off a baked bean victory days before in Indiana, where she consumed 8.4 pounds of beans with pork in 2 minutes and 47 seconds. She also holds records for hard-boiled eggs.

Posted: Sat - August 21, 2004 at 06:22 PM      

©