“Whether she dribbles with several basketballs or spells obscure Latin and Greek roots, young Zaila Avant-garde never looks stressed.”, describes the Los Angeles Times about the 14-year-old American who won, Thursday, July 8, the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
This spelling contest, broadcast on ABC, one of the largest American television channels, is a major event in American culture. Created in 1925, it consists of bringing together several young people who must spell words chosen by a jury. The competitor who makes a mistake is eliminated and the competition continues until there is only one champion left.
Last Thursday, Zaila Avant-garde made history by becoming the first African-American to win the Spelling Bee and the second black champion in the history of the contest launched 96 years ago (after Jamaican Jody-Anne Maxwell in 1998). Originally from the town of Harvey, near New Orleans, she was also the first native of Louisiana to win the competition.
13-year-old Zaila Avant-garde of Louisiana is your 93rd Scripps National #SpellingBee champion ‼️
The first African-American winner of the competition pic.twitter.com/y2Y5dAGcVN
– ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2021
“I was very happy to win, just because I worked for two years”, and “that it ends in the best possible way, it really feels good”, explained the teenager on Friday morning on ABC channel, she who imposed herself by spelling the word “murraya”, an Asian shrub.
But where this story takes an extraordinary turn is that Zaila Avant-garde is not only a gifted spelling. She is just as comfortable with the orange ball. The proof ? She has no less than three dribbling records entered in the Guinness Book of Records! His speciality ? Dribble multiple balls at the same time in wacky positions.
In today’s episode of children who are way cooler than the rest of us, we present Miss Zaila Avant-garde
The 14-year-old made history last night by becoming the first African-American Scripps Spelling Bee winner.
She also holds 3 basketball-related Guinness World Records. pic.twitter.com/j6hDDuZM9L
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 9, 2021
With 12,000 subscribers on his Instagram account, she had already made a name for herself in the basketball world and even appeared in a commercial with Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry. A number of subscribers which has now exploded with its victory in the spelling contest, rising to 77,000.
We could describe spelling as a hobby and basketball as her passion, she who dreams of one day playing in the WNBA (the Women’s Basketball League in the United States). His exploits have earned him praise from a large number of personalities: NBA star LeBron James, Sue Bird (WNBA legend) and even Barack Obama. “We are all proud of you” tweeted the former President of the United States.
Three Guinness World Records and now the national spelling bee champ! Congrats, Zaila—your hard work is paying off. We’re all proud of you. https://t.co/UaYoRMGirZ
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 9, 2021
If its history has only just begun, it is already very rich and we risk finding Zaila Avant-garde on the front of the stage, as much on the floors as on television. Nothing seems to be able to stop the young girl.
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