After earning over $18,000 in all-you-can-eat competitions, a student is munching his way through university, using the money directly for his fees.
Eric Dahl, an undergraduate in computer engineering at the University of Wisconsin, started competitive eating in 2011 after he realised one evening that if he ate quickly enough, he wouldn’t have to pay for his meal.
The restaurant, Big Red’s Steakhouse, presented a challenge: finish a three-pound cheesesteak sandwich in under 10 minutes, and your meal is free.
He accomplished this in five minutes and 50 seconds, and from there, “it just started rolling,” he explained.
In a recent interview, he mentioned, “I’m eating for my education. It helps me get through.”
His initial monetary winnings came after he devoured nine pulled pork sandwiches in six minutes at Dickey’s Barbeque Pit, earning $250.
Standing at a super-fit 6ft 3in, he maintains a strict fitness routine – lifting weights twice a week, walking a few miles each day, and playing hockey.
Known by the stage name Silo, Dahl was once ranked first in the All Pro Eating league but has since dropped to third place, though this has not diminished his substantial following.
“I really get pumped when the crowd starts cheering,” he stated.
“While I have friendships with other competitive eaters, once I’m on stage, I consider myself to have no friends.”
