#SHOWBIZ: Amazing Race star and competitive eating legend Tim Janus dies at 49

LOS ANGELES: Former The Amazing Race contestant and competitive eater Tim Janus has passed away at the age of 49.

Known in the eating circuit as "Eater X", Janus died on Sept 16 following a long battle with cancer, as confirmed by his publicist through Major League Eating.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Janus made a memorable mark on television screens in 2018 when he teamed up with fellow competitive eater Joey Chestnut for season 30 of The Amazing Race, where the pair ultimately finished in eighth place.

His broader television career also included appearances on popular shows such as True Life, Cash Cab, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Over a distinguished 12-year sporting career from 2006 to 2018, Janus rose to become the number two ranked competitive eater in the world, instantly recognisable for the Viking mask he painted on his face during contests.

He competed during the sport's famed "trophy era" when athletes vied for glory with little to no financial reward.

Amongst his many accolades, Janus held world titles for devouring four pounds (1.8kg) of tiramisu in six minutes, 10.5 pounds (4.76kg) of ramen in eight minutes, and 141 pieces of sushi in six minutes.

In 2012, he was also crowned world burping champion for emitting a continuous 18.1-second burp.

Born in Connecticut, Janus earned a degree in political science and public policy from Southern Methodist University before moving to New York City.

Beyond his eating achievements, he lived an extraordinarily eclectic life, tracking crocodiles and snakes in Australia and gaining a reputation as a remarkably talented whistler.

Although he originally harboured ambitions of serving in the United States Foreign Service, his path shifted following his cancer diagnosis.

Paying tribute, Major League Eating noted that Janus "possessed a highly distinctive view of life and an appetite for the unusual that extended well beyond the competitive eating table," seeking out experiences with "an almost deliberate disregard for the conventional."

His former roommate and fellow eater, Crazy Legs Conti, echoed those sentiments, saying that Janus "followed his own passions and dreams without regard for the pressures or expectations of society," describing him as "unique, brilliant and beloved by his friends."