This year’s National Spelling Bee got savage as fuck
The annual Scripps National Spelling Bee is a natural pressure cooker for teen and pre-teen madness, combining type-A kids, a national spotlight, and words like “nagelfluh” (a mineral composite, we had to look it up) into one potent cocktail for things getting raw. (R-A-W. Raw.) This year’s match-up was no exception, introducing the world to the artistic savagery of 11-year-old co-winner Nihar Janga, the youngest person to ever triumph in the competition. Do you doubt this kid’s letter-juggling, shade-throwing, victory-dancing bona fides? Then watch this clip of Janga responding to his opponent (and eventual co-champion) Jairam Hathwar screwing up the word “drahthaar” (it’s a kind of dog—thanks, Google) and watch the ice water start flowing through his veins.