[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/speedeater.jpg” caption=”Fourth-year mechanical engineering student Peter Czerwinski is the winner of The Collegiate Nationals Eating Championship. Photo by Dan Ho.”]Peter Czerwinski, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at McMaster, won The Collegiate Nationals Eating Championship held April 19 in San Diego, California.

Czerwinski devoured three-and-a-half college plates, which each consist of two hot dogs, two cheeseburgers and a quarter pound of french fries, in seven minutes. His nearest rival completed two-and-seven-eighth plates. Picnic-style rules were followed (i.e. food must be consumed in the traditional manner without mutilating the food).

“Furious Pete,” as he has become known, earned the title of 2008 Collegiate Nationals Eating Champion and the $1,000 first prize. He was the only Canadian of the seven collegiate eaters qualifying for the competition.

This was Czerwinski's first official eating competition. Until this point, he had only taken on individual restaurant eating titles and dares from friends. Among his eating accomplishments, he has devoured a 72 oz. steak in less than seven minutes and downed 18 bananas in two minutes. Both were record-breaking times and earned him second seeding at the competition by the Association of Independent Competitive Eaters (AICE).

Beyond his ability to speed eat, Czerwinski has an amazing story to tell. About six years ago, he ended up in hospital. At six feet two inches, he weighed only 126 pounds. He was diagnosed as anorexic. He was so weak that his heart stopped and he had to be resuscitated.

That was Christmas 2002. Being so thin wasn't a conscious decision. The stress of both his parents being ill and a poor lifestyle had taken their toll. But he was determined to struggle back and he turned to his love of bodybuilding.

Today, Peter's 6'2″ frame carries a healthy 225 pounds. And he's ripped. He has a 46-inch chest, 34-inch waist and biceps bulging at 17 inches. His exercise regime lets him burn calories almost at will. He rivals anyone on the cover of a fitness magazine.

The competitive eating world has nicknamed him “Iron Pete” for his bodybuilding physique. But “Furious Pete” best describes the speed at which he devours food.

Czerwinski isn't limiting himself to competing in eating contests; he is determined to be a competitive bodybuilder as well.

“I want to compete in September,” says Czerwinski. “I want the headline to read 'Former anorexic wins bodybuilding show!'”

CBS College Sports is broadcasting the full-range of Collegiate Nationals events beginning Monday, May 6 with seven consecutive days of Olympic-style programming followed by eight days of sports-specific programming. A special one-hour program by CBS Sports kicks off the broadcast series on Sunday, May 25.