The Marriage Of Gluttony And Sport

At 100 pounds, the hottest rookie in competitive eating looks more like a model for the Atkins diet than someone who set a world record by devouring 157 chicken wings in just 32 min. But Sonya Thomas, 36, shown at right celebrating that record, wants to bolster her status as the world's speediest gobbler at several of the 70 contests the International Federation of Competitive Eating has scheduled for 2004. Thomas, who holds titles for downing tacos (43 in 11 min.) and eggs (65 in 7 min.), hopes to pad the $20,000 she's won this year. The rival stars below will...

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