The National Spelling Bee, canceled in 2020 because of Covid-19, returned in 2021 with the live prime time finals on Thursday, July 8. This iconic American contest drew particular attention in 2019 because it ended in an eight-way tie.
The remarkable 14-year old Zaila Avant-garde is the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. Living up to her surname, Avant-garde is the holder of three Guinness world records for basketball dribbling; she can add a fourth record to her name as the first Black American National Spelling Bee champion, and a fifth for being the first winner from Louisiana.
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