BREAKINGON

Teen Spelling Bee Champion Faizan Zaki Shares His Thrilling Journey to Victory

5/30/2025
After an intense 40 hours of weekly practice, 13-year-old Faizan Zaki triumphed at the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, spelling 'éclaircissement' amid excitement and a near miss. Discover his journey and future plans in math!
Teen Spelling Bee Champion Faizan Zaki Shares His Thrilling Journey to Victory
Faizan Zaki, 13, wins the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, sharing his thrilling experience and future ambitions in math after hours of practice.

Faizan Zaki Crowned Champion of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee

The winner of the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Faizan Zaki, shared that despite dedicating nearly 40 hours a week to practice, his victory felt surreal. In an interview on Good Morning America the day after the competition, the 13-year-old expressed his excitement, stating, "I was just so excited and, like, after I spoke my word, at the end, when I spoke my word, I was kind of losing breath." After a sleepless night of just two hours, his emotions were still running high.

Winning Word: Éclaircissement

Faizan secured his title by correctly spelling the word éclaircissement, a noun meaning enlightenment. He did so without pausing to ask any clarifying questions, demonstrating remarkable confidence. "Those last couple of letters, I was gasping for air," Faizan admitted. "I was like hyperventilating with excitement." His triumph was particularly poignant as he had been the runner-up in the previous year’s competition.

Close Call Before Victory

Faizan's journey to victory was not without its challenges. Just two words away from winning, he encountered a moment of uncertainty while attempting to spell the word commelina. In his eagerness, he spelled the first two letters incorrectly, saying K-A-M instead of C-O-M. This mistake allowed his last two competitors to regain their footing in the competition. However, Faizan managed to regain his composure and ultimately triumphed with the final word.

A Casual Approach to Competition

Despite the pressure of the spelling bee, Faizan maintained a relaxed demeanor throughout the event. He sported a hoodie and even referred to the judges as "bro." "I mean, yeah, I've been in this for seven years, so at this point I'm not really that nervous," he remarked. "I'm definitely confident but not overconfident. I also have that casual style." This laid-back attitude likely contributed to his successful performance.

Commitment to Practice

Leading up to the spelling bee, Faizan dedicated an impressive five to six hours each day on weekdays and seven to eight hours on weekends to prepare. His practice routine involved scanning a dictionary for unfamiliar words and writing them down. Faizan noted that this process felt more like enjoyment than mere practice. Now that the spelling bee is behind him, he expressed relief and hinted at a shift in focus toward new academic challenges.

Future Aspirations: A Shift to Mathematics

Looking ahead, Faizan is considering exploring a new competition in math. "I really enjoy math, so maybe I can try getting into the International Mathematical Olympiad," he said, referring to the prestigious annual competition for high school students. With his impressive track record in spelling and a newfound interest in mathematics, Faizan Zaki is sure to be a name to watch in future academic competitions.

Breakingon.com is an independent news platform that delivers the latest news, trends, and analyses quickly and objectively. We gather and present the most important developments from around the world and local sources with accuracy and reliability. Our goal is to provide our readers with factual, unbiased, and comprehensive news content, making information easily accessible. Stay informed with us!
© Copyright 2025 BreakingOn. All rights reserved.