New poll: Kate Stelnick’s legitimacy
On Thursday it will be one year since it was announced that Kate Stelnick, a TCNJ student weighing less than 120 pounds, was the first person to finish a 10-11 pound 96er burger from Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, PA in under 3 hours. Ms. Stelnick claimed to have no previous competitive eating experience or training and has not attempted another eating contest or challenge since that time. The new poll question is designed to determine how legitimate the competitive eating community considers Kate’s feat.
Updated 1/10 2:56 pm I have started a new poll given that Kate Stelnick’s comment on this entry makes this question moot.
Previous poll results: Who will be the top ranked US eater at the end of 2006
Joey Chestnut -> 55%
Other -> 29%
Sonya Thomas -> 17%
Total Votes: 42
Loading ...
The Truth said
January 7, 2006 @ 11:59 pm
I think its somewhere in between hoax & smaller than normal 96er. She has been offered substantial amounts of money to compete in other events, close to home. If she really completed a full size 96er, solo, why not take money just to compete? Can a “starving” college student really afford to pass up being paid to eat, close to home?
Mr. Negativity said
January 8, 2006 @ 12:26 am
Why give her any publicity. She did that one challenge and you never heard from her again. She is not a true competitive eater and she wants no part of it so far
burgergirl said (Registered January 10, 2006)
January 10, 2006 @ 1:12 pm
Okay. Firstly, I agree with Mr. Negativity. I did eat that burger, and it was a one time thing, not something I want to make a habit of. Could you imagine what that could do to a person… I’m already widely known as the “burger girl,” so why add to it? Secondly, in response to “The Truth,” there are reasons why chose not to compete in more competitions…
When I ate the 96er at Denny’s I was amongst friends, who were all also trying to accomplish it. I do not want to sit amongst strangers and eat massive amounts of food in front of an audience or TV cameras. I thought that to be extremely awkward, and not the fun, spontaneous activity I sought out last January. Also, I am not a “starving” college student. I have a job, I don’t need to eat competively for money. I am not that desperate. When and if that time ever comes, which i doubt it will, you will be the first to know…
Okay, I’m done… byyye! -Kate
Mr. Negativity said
January 10, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
WOW! I never knew she goes on competitive eating blogs
Rich LeFevre said
January 10, 2006 @ 1:54 pm
Kate,
You make some very good points. Competitve eating is not for everyone. It takes a certain type of personality to do this on a semi-regular basis. You have to have a burning desire to compete and a willingness to make sacrifices to offset any damage you might do by eating certain foods. Since I have started eating competitively, I have stepped up my physical training regimen considerably and eat more healthfully when I’m not competing than I ever did before. Unlike many competitive eaters I don’t train much because I don’t want to endanger my health any more than I already am. For me it is a fun activity and the comraderie with other eaters on the circuit is invaluable. In general, this is a terrific bunch of guys and gals who, like me, are just out to have a little fun and appease their competitive desire. If you would not enjoy the competing aspect; then it would be pointless to do it. You are to be commended on your accomplishment and I hope you have a great life.
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
January 10, 2006 @ 2:31 pm
Kate
Thank you very much for responding. Congratulations on your amazing feat at Denny’s along with any unpublicized eating achievements you have accomplished.
Best of luck to you in your future plans, regardless of whether they involve the public consumption of massive amounts of food.
The Dictionary said
January 10, 2006 @ 4:17 pm
“Starving” doesn’t have to mean that you’re poor and desperate. It could just mean that you’re very hungry, in which case you should re-examine what The Truth wrote.
The Truth said
January 10, 2006 @ 4:54 pm
While I tend to believe that Ms. Stelnick is the one calling herself burger girl, I still don’t believe she ate a full size 96er without training. The only possibility I believe, is she ate a much smaller than normal 96er. I tend to not believe that either. Whether you like to compete or not is ridiculous when she was offered money JUST TO COMPETE, not win. She did take money to appear as a judge at an event, what’s the difference? I’m not the only one that doesn’t believe, when I last saw the poll, only 24% believed she ate the thing with or without training.
Anonymous said
January 10, 2006 @ 10:22 pm
I have noticed the picture of Kate with the Burger looks a lot smaller than the Burger Booker ate and others.
I believe this waws a Media hype.
Bubba Yarbrough said
January 11, 2006 @ 6:40 am
Kate is cute I’d like to see her in a competition.
Mr Negativity said
January 11, 2006 @ 9:10 am
Cut the crap . She legit ate the burger. That is not the issue . The issue is her dismissal and attitude of the sport which stinks. For someone that doesn’t care one way or another she seems to getting more attention than anyone.Move on to something else
Anonymous said
January 11, 2006 @ 3:06 pm
How do we even know that the real Kate Stelnick posted that reply to Mr. Negativity? Are we supposed to believe that there are people out there who actually sign their letters “Byyye!”?
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
January 11, 2006 @ 4:15 pm
burgergirl registered with a College of New Jersey email address, so it is highly likely that the comment above was made by the actual Ms. Stelnick.
burgergirl said (Registered January 10, 2006)
January 12, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Mr. Negativity,
I do not have a poor attitude towards the sport of competitive eating. I think, if someone is talented and enjoys competing then that is great. They should go for it. The sport, however, is not for me…. I’m sorry if my last post made it seem as if I didn’t care or belittled the sport. That was not my intention, I was frustrated because there are so many competitors out there breaking new world records, and yet there is still so much attention on me and my one feat. I agree, it is time to move on. Okay, thanks. –Kate
beautifulbrian said
January 12, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
Kate(burger girl) remember i spoke with you on the phone some months back and you said 20 hot dogs and buns is a piece of cake for you? Just a suggestion to silence all the critics. Why dont you enter just one Nathans hot dog qualifier and win just to show everyone that you wasnt just a flash in the pan. This way you can walk away a winner and tell everyone to shove it. Do it for america if nothing else !!!
Rich LeFevre said
January 13, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
I agree with Brian. After all, she did make that statement.
lefftright said (Registered January 14, 2006)
January 13, 2006 @ 10:03 pm
I also agree with Brian. I actually am a person who would never have registered but this actually made me do it. I’ll post twice just so I won’t sound so hypocritical. Kate.. I think you should do this. Hope to see you this 4th of July. Be like Nike and “just do it.”
beautifulbrian said
January 14, 2006 @ 1:27 am
Hey Rich i have to call you over the weekend . I saw your number on my cell. thanks
burgergirl said (Registered January 10, 2006)
January 14, 2006 @ 12:05 pm
Actually, I don’t think I ever said that… and If i did well, im sorry. I won’t do that.
beautifulbrian said
January 14, 2006 @ 2:52 pm
Kate Kate you have a short memory for a 20 yr old.I will give you the benefit of the doubt that i was the one that brought the subject up on the hotdogs . All you said was “piece of cake” . Reconsider the Nathans thing. We wont let you rest until you get to that table . If it means all the eaters chipping in to get you an appearance fee then so be it.
Ray The Bison Meduna said
January 17, 2006 @ 12:42 am
Kate
I feel if you do not like competitive eating and what we stand for then why do you publicise youself with a website bragging up your feat.
You were born with a natural ability to eat and doing a Hot Dog qualifier would be something to have fun with and also to be proud of your talent GOD gave you.
Come on Kate just do it!
Ray
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
January 17, 2006 @ 12:58 am
A disclaimer on katestelnick.com says that it is a fan site and not Kate’s personal site.
Rich LeFevre said
January 17, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
I know where Kate’s coming from and, trust me, she will not compete against us because she doesn’t feel anything can be gained from the experience. There is no way she would even come close to Sonya, who is by far the greatest female eater in the world and it’s doubtful that she would approach Carlene’s total of 25 hot dogs and other impressive totals either. She knows she caught lightning in a bottle and reaped a lot of publicity out of it and that was enough to satisfy her curiosity about what it’s like to have the spotlight shining brightly on you.
She apparently is not a competitive person but I am not totally convinced that she does not like the attention this has generated. This way, she’ll always be able to tell her friends that she did something that no one else had been able to do and that if she really wanted to compete she could have done very well. Of course, they won’t be able to dispute that statement even though it is not valid.
lefftright said (Registered January 14, 2006)
January 20, 2006 @ 11:16 am
I guess you’re right Rich… ok… Kate, don’t do it. This is fun though… her replying to us. She could easily not so if you are reading this Kate, you are a very cool person and good luck with whatever you do in life. 🙂
Poppso said
March 21, 2006 @ 7:26 pm
I think a lot of you are just jealous that someone did something you cant do without any “training”. Pretty funny if you ask me.