Competitive eating legend Takeru Kobayashi -- a six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion -- has announced his retirement from the sport.
Joey Chestnut's longtime opponent revealed the news in the Netflix documentary, "Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut" ... saying he's ready to focus on his well-being and repair the damage he's done to his body over the past two decades.
Kobayashi rose to fame after winning his first Fourth of July contest in 2001 .