b'C E L E B R I T Y S P O T L I G H T I N T E R V I E W Miki SudoCompetitive Eating Champion A League Eating as of 2022, she holds four world records, and recently reclaimed ctually putting her money where her mouth is, Miki Sudo took the competitive eating world by storm just nine years ago. She is ranked third in the world with Major her title as female champion at the Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest this past summer. Whether its sausages, oysters, tamales, eggs, gyozas or even Hostess Twinkies, Sudo consumes on a championship level, and even fell in love along the way. How do you train for competitions?I always like to familiarize myself with the contest food in order to find the most efficient way to break it down in competition. I dont time myself for this sort of practice, and I usually use just three or four servings. For some events, however, I like to do full practices, in which I race a fellow competitor for Above, Miki Sudo winning the 2022 Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest the full duration of an event, eating the actual contest food.When did you start competitive eating, and why did it appeal to you? While practice is useful, preparation is I always say that I didnt choose competitive eating, that competitive eating chose me because I fellfar more important to me. In order to into it by happenstance. Back in December of 2011, on a whim, I attempted a restaurant challengedo my best at the table, I need to be in that was awarding $1500 to anyone who could finish their 12-pound pho challenge. I succeeded good shape and have enough endur-shocking everyone, including myselfand continued to collect every food challenge cash prize in theance to push myself for the duration of Las Vegas area. Still, I turned down multiple requests to enter head-to-head contests because, in mythe event.mind, I didnt belong on those big stages. Eventually, in late 2012, I got up the courage to enter a local rib eating contest with multiple heats and nearly 40 entrants. On contest day, I was extremely self-conscious, and a friend literally had to hold my hand as I walked into the building. Unlike the other guys, I didnt have a gimmicky nickname,How do you win an ice cream much less any titles under my belt, but I ended up winning the whole event. Even in that moment,eating competition without getting I realized that the $1200 prize was nothing compared to the self-confidence I gained that day. Byan ice cream headache? pushing the boundaries of my own comfort zone, I discovered that I loved competing, and that IBrain freeze has never been an issue belonged on those big stages, at least as much as anyone else.for me in ice cream eating con-Today, I love competitive eating because I enjoy challenging myself and its fun to win. Whats more, Itests. From what I understand, the get to make people smile and raise money for some great causes. sensation occurs when your mouthspecifically, the roof of your mouth Of your competitive eating accomplishments, which are you most proud?gets too cold. Typically, I toss food to the back of my throat to swallow it Im proud of the eight giant belts Ive earned as the undefeated Womens Champion of the Nathanswhole, so I dont think the ice cream Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, and its satisfying to have set and broken multiple World Recordsever sits in my mouth for long enough while competing alongside men. However, Im most proud of finding my best friend and the love ofto trigger brain freeze. Or maybe Im my life on the competitive eating circuit, with whom I now share an amazing son. Nick and I met atso focused on the competition that I the hotel gym on the morning of the Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2018. While it wasnt love at firstdont notice the discomfort, but after I bite, we stayed in touch and eventually discovered that we had so much in common beyond com-petitive eating. Four years later, were happily engaged and have an amazing one year old son, Max.ate 16.5 pints of ice cream in 6 min-Not only have I started my own family, but Ive also strengthened relationships with my existing family.utes, my stomach was freezing. I filled For these reasons, I am most proud that Ive gotten far more than I ever could have imagined out ofany space I had left with hot coffee! competitive eating.16 visionsSummer 2022 Sumitomo Corporation of Americas'