A Florida man wins the Key West Key Lime Pie Eating Championship in 59.6 seconds
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The Florida man who finally took home the title in the World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship said his winning strategy came down to clearing the biggest obstacle first: the cream.
Florida Keys resident Kevin Renly, 62, claimed he won the annual Fourth of July contest in Key West after devouring a 9-inch Key lime pie in 59.6 seconds — all without using his hands.
Contestants had to eat the pies without using their hands, although goggles and wetsuits were allowed.
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After finishing second in 2024 and 2025, Renly said he spent time preparing his way ahead of this year’s tournament.
“You didn’t have to eat the cream. So, I thought, ‘How am I going to get the cream off really fast?’ Renly told Fox News Digital. “That’s what I thought. I take off my shirt and dive into it, pulling the shiny cream off my chest.”
Referee Landon Bradbary points to Kevin Renly as he rises from the remains of his pie, whipped cream dripping down his chin, during the World Famous Key Lime Pie Championship in Key West, Florida. (Carol Tedesco/Key Lime Festival)
Once the topping was out, Renly flipped the pie upside down to face what he considered the hardest part.
“How are you going to eat the crust? That’s too bad because it’s dry,” she said. “No problem, we’ll just turn it over and eat it like that.”
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Held as part of the five-day Key Lime Festival, the contest is Key West’s tropical twist on Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest and draws hundreds of spectators as 25 contestants toss face first into cream-covered pies.
Renly, who owns Southernmost Bees with his wife, Julie, joked after this year’s victory that “the third time’s the charm.” He had previously called himself “the first loser” after finishing second in a row.
Third time was the charm for Renly, who also competed in 2024 and 2025. (Carol Tedesco/Key Lime Festival)
The win had even more meaning because the competition was on the day of the wedding he shared with his wife, Julie.
“I didn’t want to go home and tell him that I lost again,” said Renly after the competition.
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Renly said his motivation went beyond bragging rights. He wanted to keep the championship trophy in the Florida Keys.
“I just kept watching and I thought, ‘Wait a minute. All these people are coming.’ [from] get out of town and take this trophy home,'” he told Fox News Digital. “This trophy needs to stay here in the area, so some locals should keep it here.”
Renly ate a 9-inch Key lime pie in 59.6 seconds to earn the coveted Key lime championship belt. (Carol Tedesco/Key Lime Festival)
Key lime pie was designated the official pie of Florida in 2006.
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The iconic dessert is usually made with key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks in a graham cracker crust topped with whipped cream or meringue.
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Now that he has won, Renly is determined to make history.
“No one has ever been repeated to win,” he said. “Now I have a new goal – to be the first repeat.”
