FL Firefighter is Three-Time Shrimp Eating Champ

Fort Myers Beach firefighter Joel Martinez won his third consecutive shrimp eating contest at the Fort Myers Beach Lion's Club Shrimp Festival.

Martinez consumed 2.5 pounds of wild-caught gulf shrimp in eight minutes during the contest at Lynn Hall Memorial Park. He beat out 10 other competitors.

Martinez exceeded his previous high of 2.1 pounds of shrimp from 2019, according to Fort Myers Beach Talk.

Martinez plans to return next year.

His sponsor, Southwest Florida Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Local 1826, encouraged him to “keep going until you lose.”