From The Boston Globe · · 1m 10s
Tim Janus, World’s Greatest Eater Dies at 49
Tim Janus, a top competitive eater who set world records, died in Boston at 49 after battling lung cancer.
In brief
Tim Janus, a top competitive eater who set world records, died in Boston at 49 after battling lung cancer. Tim Janus, a world-record competitive eater, died in Boston at 49 after a lung cancer diagnosis in 2023. Originally reported by The Boston Globe.
Tim Janus Dies
Tim Janus, one of the world’s highest-ranked competitive eaters, died in Boston on Sept. 16 at age 49.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis
His sister Tess McNair said he was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer in 2023.
World Records
He consumed 4 pounds of tiramisu in six minutes, 10.5 pounds of ramen in eight minutes, 71 tamales in eight minutes, 7.
Competitive Eating Career
His career, from 2004 to 2016, tracked competitive eating’s evolution from a state-fair novelty to a serious sport with televised events and sponsorships.
Eater X
He went by the nom-d’estomac Eater X and painted his face with a luchador-style mask.
Cancer Diagnosis Interrupts Deployment
In 2023, he had to cut short a deployment to Mexico City when diagnosed with cancer.
Competitive Eating Legacy
He was a poster boy for competitive eating’s aspirations to seriousness, appearing on MTV and Good Morning America.
The takeaway
Tim Janus, a world-record competitive eater, died in Boston at 49 after a lung cancer diagnosis in 2023.
