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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
