Nature vs. Nurture for competitive eaters (new poll)

October 5, 2006 at 2:11 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Science

megamunch has a new blog entry about the role of raw inherent eating ability versus training, technique and experience in becoming a top eater. The new poll asks what percentage of the population could become a top ranked eater with essentially unlimited training and resources.

Comments (16)

16 Comments »

  1. Erik the Red said (Registered January 9, 2006)

    October 5, 2006 @ 2:52 pm

    What does “unlimited training and resources” entail? Isn’t that already available? How about if we injected everyone with a will to compete, we took away everyones pain receptors, we give everyone who is overweight lyposuction, and send everyone the super secret “guide to competitive eating” and the “competitive eating startup kit”? Then what would the result be?

  2. Rhonda Evans said

    October 5, 2006 @ 3:32 pm

    Nature sets the limits, within which training van make one better. But few people have the eating prowess of a Koby. And there’s probably not over 10 females on this entire planet who are blessed with the God-given talent the Sonya Thomas possesses, all of which are unknown at this point. But as competitive eating grows (as a sport or whatever), more of these super-talented people will come out of the bushes.

  3. Gatekeeper for Valhalla said

    October 5, 2006 @ 4:26 pm

    Don’t get smug Erik. I think by this ojrifkin means someone has time to train and knows how to best train.

  4. the boy king said

    October 5, 2006 @ 5:41 pm

    the result would be new excuses.

    I don’t think it could be said better than what Eric the Red did right there.

  5. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    October 5, 2006 @ 5:53 pm

    Unlimited training & resources does not include surgery or drugs, which I have added to the poll question.

  6. Hall Hunt said (Registered July 13, 2006)

    October 5, 2006 @ 7:44 pm

    Nature is a huge factor in my opinion. I know that I have naturally always had an above average capacity. As far as speed goes, I have to work on that and so far have only improved by marginal amounts. Everyone in my family is the same way as I am. We all can eat a lot with no problem, but are also all very slow eaters naturally.
    Throughout the eating circuit you will see that some naturally can eat very fast. Others can naturally eat unbelievable amounts. While still others seem to naturally be able to do both. Even though nature is a huge factor, one can always get better with practice. Like anything else in this world through hard work, determination, and a belief in yourself you can do anything.
    For me I believe all things are possible. Something I remind myself before any contest or other challenging situation in my life is a scripture from the Bible. It is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
    As far as natural abilities go and training them, I also believe everyone has there natural plateau point. Not everyone is cut out to be a competitive eater. Some have God given gifts in other things. Luckily God blessed me with the gift to be able to eat mass amounts of food. I love it! ;o)

  7. Mega Munch said

    October 5, 2006 @ 8:19 pm

    I think Hall hits closest to what I was referring to in my post (and what OJ refers to as well).

    Some eaters are able to combine certain naturally occuring physical gifts with training while other eaters are “average joes” physically but train like hell in order to be great eaters (they might stretch their stomachs through training, but their stomachs were average-sized when they began their quest). Personally, I think the X-factor is the drive to push oneself and the desire to succeed. How bad does this “average joe” want it? That’s something very few people possess.

  8. The Natural said (Registered October 5, 2006)

    October 5, 2006 @ 9:43 pm

    I agree with Hall. I believe nature is a huuuge factor, but not the only factor.
    Id never known anyone who could eat more than me before I joined the IFOCE. Alot of people talk smack and think they can eat alot but they cant. Some people think that because they can eat a whole supersized fastfood combo meal that they have the talent to compete.
    Our sport is very special, not everyone on the planet has tried to see if they could race a car, shoot or dunk a basketball, play football,soccer,baseball ……and so on. Everyone eats though and even competed in their own way, whether at lunch with friends or at the dinner table as a child or adult. We all have opportunities to see if we have “IT” not many sports can say that. I think that all the ralked eaters in the IFOCE are talented, the top 20 super talented, top 10 unbelievably talented. I kind of feel like the poll is a bit of a slap in the face to the eaters in the top 10 and their superhuman abilities.
    Training can definately help, but not just anyone can train and be the best in a professional sport, natural gifts play important roles.

  9. SuperPaul said

    October 5, 2006 @ 11:36 pm

    No matter how much I try, I can’t dunk a basketball….or eat one….stupid lousy natural ability!!

  10. Brazen said (Registered August 3, 2006)

    October 6, 2006 @ 8:37 am

    I can see there being a huge market in competitive eating training camps for amateurs who want to hone their skills. Perhaps an idea for the retired eaters to make a little money on the side? Damn, wish I’d patented that!

  11. Bubba said (Registered January 8, 2006)

    October 6, 2006 @ 8:39 am

    Look at Rich & Carlene I think Rich told me one time he doesn’t train and Carlene fights like a bear for every bite. Explain how two super talented competitive eaters found each other and got married. Coincidence?

    This brings me to a bit of information I picked up from an IFOCE insider. I been made aware that the IFOCE has started a breeding program and are in the process of combining Joey and Sonya’s DNA. With the advancements in the mapping of the human genenome project etc I expect a legion of super eaters in the next 18 years.

  12. Locust said

    October 6, 2006 @ 11:39 am

    Bubba,

    Believe it or not, that did have a lot to do with our compatibility when we were dating. I was tired of going to dinner with girls who would leave half of their food uneaten which would have to be thrown out afterwards. The first time I took Carlene to dinner, she had cleaned her plate before I even knew what hit me. I was busy talking and she was busy eating. This made an immediate impression on me and she could eat without feeling self conscious.

  13. Brazen said (Registered August 3, 2006)

    October 6, 2006 @ 11:54 am

    Nice one Bubba!

    But the talk of breeding does make me wonder. As far as I’m aware, there are no mothers doing well on the competitive eating circuit. Surely pregnancy would be the ultimate in stomach stretching?

    Certainly, a lot of female marathon runners come back faster after childbirth. Researchers have yes to identify why, but it may have a lot to do with pain tolerance. It could be the ultimate training technique!

  14. Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)

    October 6, 2006 @ 12:11 pm

    Brazen,
    I’ve had similar curiosity if women have an inherent advantage soley because their organs have been designed to get pushed out of the way of an expanding Uterus.(similar to the way the stomach might expand in a contest). It’s an extension of the Belt of Fat Theory in some ways….surely the organs provide their own resistance to being crushed by the Stomach.

    Would a woman who’s given birth once have a greater advantage since all her giblets have already been knocked around once? Somebody fetch me an Internist! Agent 44…Find me the Surgeon from Krystals!

  15. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    October 6, 2006 @ 1:45 pm

    Most of the significant eating feats by females, in US contests, Japan or eating challenges, have been accomplished by childless women. Balinda Gould, who briefly held the Rockford chili dog challenge record earlier this year, is the only notable competitive eating mother I am aware of.

  16. Dan Gallagher said

    October 9, 2006 @ 10:26 pm

    No more than ten of them could if they all tried at once. So it’s a pretty small fraction.

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