Tim Janus, the competitive eater known as Eater X who competed on The Amazing Race and ranked among the sport’s elite, has died. He was 49. Janus died September 16 following a cancer diagnosis, his publicist confirmed to Major League Eating. He is survived by his mother, father, and sister.
The Tim Janus dead news marks the loss of a competitor who climbed the ranks of professional eating to become the No. 2 eater in the world, behind only Joey Chestnut. He was crowned world ramen eating champion after consuming 10.5 pounds in just under eight minutes, and also held the title of nigiri world eating champion. He competed in the famed Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July in 2014, downing 44 hot dogs.
Janus was also a familiar face on television beyond the eating circuit. He competed alongside Joey Chestnut on season 30 of The Amazing Race, won $1,600 on Cash Cab, and took home $100,000 on the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Tributes poured in from the competitive eating community, with Major League Eating honoring his legacy as one of the sport’s most recognizable and respected figures.
