# 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.
- Title: Tim Janus, World’s Greatest Eater Dies at 49 | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: tim janus, competitive eating, lung cancer, boston, nathan's famous, international federation of competitive, luchador, news, local, Tim, Janus, World
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/15/metro/tim-janus-one-worlds-greatest-competitive-eaters-has-died
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tim janus, competitive eating, lung cancer, boston, nathan's famous, international federation of competitive, luchador, news, local
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Tim Janus, a world-record competitive eater, died in Boston at 49 after a lung cancer diagnosis in 2023.