World competitive eating record holder dies at 49 from cancer

Tim Janus, a world competitive eating record holder known as 'Eater X', has passed away at 49 after battling cancer.

Major League Eating (MLE) confirmed the news on 23/9. Janus's family did not disclose details about the specific type of cancer he had.

Janus competed professionally from 2006 to 2018 and was inducted into the MLE Hall of Fame. During his career, he rose to second in the world rankings, behind Joey Chestnut. He held world records in speed eating for various items, including ramen, tiramisu, and nigiri sushi, and also set a world record for the longest burp.

Tim Janus passed away at 49 after battling cancer. *Shea Communications*

At the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York, he finished second in 2010 and third in 2014.

Janus was known on the competitive eating circuit for his Viking-style warrior face paint, inspired by his childhood passion for professional wrestling. He was renowned for not shying away from any culinary challenge. "I'd eat a roll of pennies if it helped me set a world record; taste isn't an issue. I want to try everything in the world at least once", Janus told Food Republic in 2015.

After retiring in 2018, Janus passed the entrance exam for the U.S. Foreign Service. However, his career change plans were halted when he received a serious illness diagnosis. Earlier, in 2016, Janus had expressed caution about the negative impacts extreme eating sports could have on the digestive system: "Deep down, I always wondered how this competition negatively affects long-term health. For me, the issue is that we are putting too much pressure on the body, while each person only has one body".

Beyond eating competitions, Janus and fellow competitor Joey Chestnut teamed up for season 30 of the reality TV show "The Amazing Race" in 2017, finishing 5th. Remembering him, Crazy Legs Conti, a former oyster eating record holder and long-time friend of Janus, shared: "Janus always pursued his passions without worrying about societal prejudices. He was a unique, talented individual who lived his life fully on his own terms".

Janus's passing comes amidst a notable increase in early-onset cancer diagnoses. Since 1990, the global incidence of early-onset cancer (diagnosed in people under 50) has increased by nearly 80%. This figure is projected to rise by an additional 31% by 2030, according to research in BMJ Oncology. The latest report from the American Cancer Society indicates that women under 50 have an 82% higher incidence rate than men of the same age, up from 51% in 2002.

Approximately 103 out of 100,000 people under 50 are diagnosed with cancer. The disease in younger individuals tends to progress more aggressively, often due to late detection. Colorectal cancer leads with the fastest increasing rate, followed by uterine, blood, kidney, and breast cancers. Doctors are racing to understand the reasons for the rising cancer rates, but the full explanation remains elusive.