with associated risks. Retired competitive eater Don "Moses" Lerman said that he would "stretch [his] stomach until it causes internal bleeding" in competitions. Deaths Most deaths in competitive eating competitions have occurred from choking. In October 2012, a 32-year-old man died while competitively eating live roaches and worms. An autopsy revealed he choked to death. In July 2013, a 64-year-old Australian man, Bruce Holland, died after choking during a pie eating contest. On July 4, 2014, a 47-year-old competitive eater choked to death during a hot dog eating contest. On March 11, 2016, a 45-year-old Indonesian man choked to death in a KFC speed-eating competition organized by an outside firm. At a Sacred Heart University event on April 2, 2017, a 20-year-old female student died as a result of a pancake eating contest. She died by choking. On August 13, 2019, a 41-year-old man choked to death after competing in an amateur taco eating competition at a Fresno Grizzlies baseball game. On January 26, 2020, a woman died in Hervey Bay, Queensland after choking in a lamington-eating contest on Australia Day. On October 17, 2021, Madie Nicpon, a 20-year-old Tufts University student, died after choking and falling unconscious during a hot dog eating contest. Around February 25, 2023, a 38-year old women died after choking in a pancake-eating contest on Maslenitsa Notable competitive eaters Joey Chestnut Peter Czerwinski, aka Furious Pete Takeru Kobayashi Matt Stonie Bob Shoudt Sonya Thomas See also Man v. Food Milk chugging Muk-bang Wing Bowl References Further reading Eat This Book (2006) Horsemen of the Esophagus (2006) A Short History of the American Stomach (2008, Frederick Kaufman) Clemens Berger: Die Wettesser. Roman, Skarabäus 2007 (The Competitive Eaters. A Novel) External links EatFeats - competitive eating blog, database & calendar eatfeats.com All Pro Eating Promotions CompetitiveEaters.com Individual sports Sports entertainment