Faizan Zaki, a 14-year-old 8 th grader, has prevailed on the biggest stage at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He goes home very proud, along with a prize of $52,500! Zaki’s triumph is a remarkable redemption story. He made history as the fifth centennial runner-up to come back and win the competition, a milestone last reached by Sean Conley in 2001. His lifetime earnings from these honeybee races now add up to a whopping $77,500.
The spelling bee took place on an electrifying stage, where Zaki wore a black hoodie and radiated casual enthusiasm as he spelled challenging words. Despite having to correct himself during study sessions, where he emphasized speed after not preparing adequately for last year’s spell-off, Zaki managed to maintain his composure throughout the competition.
Zaki’s path to claiming victory wasn’t without its challenges. The last few rounds, he got tripped on a word but got the bounce back right away. In the end, he cemented his victory not by spelling the fanciful “eclaircissement” — which means “clarification” in English — correctly. As soon as Zaki finished spelling out the word, he couldn’t contain his excitement and pumped his fists in celebration. Overcome with joy, he fell onto the stage.
Zaki’s father, Zaki Anwar, celebrated his son’s achievement, proudly declaring him the “GOAT”—an acronym for “Greatest of All Time.”
“He’s the GOAT. I actually believe that. He’s really good, man. He’s been doing it for so long, and he knows the dictionary in and out.” – Zaki Anwar
Two months into spelling season, it’s clear that Faizan Zaki’s passion for spelling shines through to anyone who’s ever met him. Zaki’s coach, Bruhat Soma, said that his commitment to the sport has distinguished him from others.
“One thing that differentiates him is he really has a passion for this. In his free time, when he’s not studying for the bee, he’s literally looking up archaic, obsolete words that have no chance of being asked,” – Bruhat
Zaki’s been inside the world of competitive spelling for over half his life. His dedication to mastering his craft has turned him into a lethal competitor. There were times throughout the competition when his exuberance almost got the better of him.
“I think he cared too much about his aura,” – Bruhat Soma
Over the years, Zaki has worked with three coaches—Scott Remer, Sam Evans, and Sohum Sukhantankar—to help him prepare for this year’s bee. On Zaki’s exuberance during the match, coach Sam Evans said, “You could see she had fun out there.”
“He’s crazy. He’s having a good time, and he’s doing what he loves, which is spelling,” – Evans
Zaki gave us a comeback story you can’t win without an iron will and an indomitable spirit.
“No offense to Bruhat, but I think he really took the bee a little too seriously,” – Faizan
And of course the Scripps National Spelling Bee showcases phenomenal talent. Perhaps more than anything, it gives a nod to all the hard work and commitment demonstrated by all its participants. Faizan Zaki’s story is representative of this amazing spirit of determination and dedication.
