One of the winningest athletes of all time? Not according to ESPN.
Surfing’s inclusion in the Olympics, for many, represents a turning point. A ceremonious launch into the mainstream. Ignoring how hard-pressed you’d be to argue events like curling and uneven bars have gone mainstream by virtue of the fact they’re in the Olympics, the global surf population is in fact increasing.
But has it “gone mainstream?” In short, no.
I’m gonna let Joey Chestnut finish, but Kelly Slater has 11 world titles. Photo: TarzanSam/Reddit
Case in point, the image above posted by an astute Reddit user, TarzanSam, with the comment: “Damn ESPN, way to leave out Kelly and the WSL/ASP.”
Included on ESPN’s list of individuals in sport with the most championships are athletes from such diverse disciplines as basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, and… hot dog eating.
That’s right, Joey Chestnut (aka “Jaws”), who made history this week winning his 10th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by consuming 72 franks, made the list, while 11-time world champion of surfing Kelly Slater (aka “GOAT”) was conspicuously absent.
Maybe ESPN is still reeling from its failure to include surfing in the X-Games in a viable way. Or, maybe the snub was unintentional. I’m not sure what’s worse.
Much like surfing, competitive eating (or Major League Eating) is in the midst of an identity crisis of its own, trying to attract a broader fan base to help the sport be seen as one and less as a novelty.
Maybe a push for Olympic inclusion is in order?
