Takeru Kobayashi, the world hot dog eating champion, might not be able to hold on to his title at next month's event.
The 29-year-old has won six consecutive titles at the annual competition at the historic's Nathan's hot dog booth, on Coney Island, Brooklyn.
However, the diminutive speed-eating king has found his championship preparations wrecked by the onset of jaw arthritis.
Writing on his website this week, Kobayashi confirmed that his "jaw has abandoned the frontline".
"Already I can't open my jaws more than just a little bit," he wrote. "There's no pain only if I open my mouth about enough for one finger. More than that is painful and I can't open it."
His title had already been under threat by the news earlier this month that a Californian man had shattered Kobayashi's world record by eating 59.5 hot dogs in just 12 minutes, (the world champion had managed 53.75).
The Nagoya-native added: "To tell the truth, I'm desperate about healing completely before the 4 July contest."
The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held every year since 1916, with Japanese competitors having held the title for the last decade.
