This Story Never Gets Old! Zaila Avant-Garde: The History-Making Teen Who Mastered Both the Court and the Spelling Stage

Some stories never lose their shine, and Zaila Avant-Garde’s is one of them. In 2021, at just 14 years old, the Harvey, Louisiana native became the first African American champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, defeating 208 contestants from five countries. Her winning word? “Murraya.” The victory earned her multiple full-ride scholarships and a permanent place in the history books.

But spelling is just one chapter in Zaila’s extraordinary story. The daughter of Alma Heard and Jawara Spacetime, Zaila was given her distinctive last name by her father in honor of jazz legend John Coltrane. She cites Malala Yousafzai, Serena Williams, and Coco Gauff as inspirations — but when it comes to basketball, her idols include Stephen Curry, James Harden, Diana Taurasi, Kevin Durant, and Maya Moore.

For Zaila, spelling has always been a “side thing” — an hors d'oeuvre compared to her main dish: basketball. As one of the top Class of 2026 basketball prospects in the nation, she’s serious about taking her game to the collegiate level, with dreams of attending Harvard and playing college basketball.

Her talents don’t stop there. Zaila is a multi-record-breaking athlete, holding three Guinness World Records and co-holding another:

• Most bounce juggles in one minute (three basketballs) – 231 (Nov. 14, 2019)

• Most bounces of four basketballs in 30 seconds – 307 (Nov. 14, 2019)

• Most bounce juggles in one minute using four basketballs – 255 (Nov. 2, 2020)

• Co-holder for most basketballs dribbled at one time – six (Jan. 26, 2021)

Her passion for record-breaking began at age eight, after receiving a Guinness World Records book as a birthday gift. Since then, she’s taken her skills to elite levels — not just on the court, but also in juggling and unicycling (yes, she can do both at once). She even took home the silver medal in the International Jugglers’ Association 2020 championship in the Juniors Division (18U).

Zaila Avant-Garde is more than a spelling bee champion. She’s a scholar, an athlete, a performer, and an inspiration to young people everywhere — proof that brilliance can thrive in many arenas, whether it’s under the bright lights of a basketball court or on the pressure-filled stage of a spelling competition.