Meet your Scripps National Spelling Bee champion, Zaila Avant-garde.
She’s a 14-year-old from New Orleans and she’s also the first Black student to ever win the national spelling bee, which is amazing on its own.
Avant-garde won the competition by spelling the word “Murraya,” which is a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees. She was so amazing made history. That’s pretty cool.
But when she’s not spelling and just being an overall genius? She’s just out here giving other 14-year-olds buckets. Avant-garde is apparently an amazing basketball player, y’all.
Just look at this layup package. Wow.
🏆🏆🏆 6th & 7th grade #Highlights. Wait 'till you see her now , ⚡️💨🤯#waayyybetter. Been working like usual. [For more extensive highlights check out her Instagram page: @basketballasart]. 🖖🏀 pic.twitter.com/xkUcgtvSXW
— Zaila Avant-garde (@Basketballasart) October 19, 2020
And the jumpshot. Man. The jumpshot.
Look, Zaila Avant-garde only won the Spelling Bee so you all would have no doubt she can spell bucket. pic.twitter.com/cB964T2ZAc
— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) July 9, 2021
She also has 3 (!!!!) Guinness World Records for the most basketballs dribbled at once (six), most basketball bounces (307 in 30 seconds) and the most bounce juggling in one minute (255 with four basketballs), per the New York Times.
Here she is just…dribbling everything. Oh, while riding a unicycle.
Zaila Avant-garde ♥️ pic.twitter.com/uY6w1WLfWH
— L A W (@SupremeStreet) July 9, 2021
Just incredible. Fans were in awe by how talented she is from basketball to now being the world’s best speller.
