Shrey Parikh wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee, beating Ishaan Gupta in lightning round
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, California, won the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling 32 words in a 90-second tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta, who spelled 25 words correctly.
- Parikh, who finished third last year while battling a fever, credited his victory to intense preparation with coaching from past champions and continuous competition against top spellers.
- Ishaan Gupta, a 12-year-old from Jersey City, New Jersey, was a semifinalist this year and has another year of eligibility, while Sarv Dharavane from Georgia finished third for the second consecutive year.
- The 2024 finalists were noted as an unusually strong group, with the competition beginning with a perfect 18-for-18 spelling and vocabulary round before some top contenders were eliminated.
- The event, held at Constitution Hall, featured improved seating and atmosphere, and was narrated by new host Mina Kimes alongside longtime analyst Paul Loeffler.