California teen wins Scripps National Spelling Bee in dramatic lightning-round tiebreaker
Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from California, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in a dramatic lightning-round tiebreaker. He correctly spelled 32 words in 90 seconds, setting a record for the event. This victory marks a significant comeback for Shrey, who had faced challenges in previous competitions.
- ▪Shrey Parikh won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28, 2026.
- ▪He spelled 32 words correctly in a lightning-round tiebreaker against Ishaan Gupta.
- ▪Shrey's victory is notable as he is the 31st champion of Indian heritage in the past 37 years.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
US News California teen wins Scripps National Spelling Bee in dramatic lightning-round tiebreaker By Associated Press Published May 29, 2026, 2:44 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google Shrey Parikh felt his body shake from nerves and doubts every time he walked to the microphone at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the final test of a six-year competitive spelling career marked by triumph and heartbreak that he knew could end at any moment. Then he listened to pronouncer Jacques Bailly, and his dour body language vanished as he nodded vigorously, his tell that, yes, he knew the words he was asked to spell. All of them.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at California Post.
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