What makes you different from other competitive eaters?

What makes you different from other competitive eaters?

Arnie "Chowhound" Chapman (Competitive Eater) gives expert video advice on: What is the allure of competitive eating?; What makes a competitive eater?; Can anyone become a competitive eater? and more...

For me, competitive eating is more than just the food you eat. Okay, I love the whole possible and potential drama of competitive eating. I actually think that with what I do for a living; I'm a counselor for the New York state commission for the blind, I think I do bring a certain kind of understanding and approach to competitive eating. And I kind of have a reputation among some of the competitive eaters as somebody who they can talk to. Somebody who they can feel comfortable with. And also too, I'm as much interested in what other people do than we're doing. I have some nice records you know. And I could never ever do it in competition before and I'd be fine with that. But I'm also very interested in competitive eating and what's happening outside of myself. And it's cool, that's the competitive thing. Not everybody has to be that way. You know some people they just like; they may use competitive eating as a way to get away and kind of have a fun time and that sort of thing. But since I got into competitive eating I really jumped in with both feet. And at times it has created some conflict with home life, I'll admit that. But I love, I really, really love the fact that competitive eating, it gives me permission to be silly. It allows me to be a sixth grader. And you know in the sixth grade was a fantastic time in my life.