NZ speller stumbles in US spelling bee

Photo / Ben Fraser

The New Zealand entrant in the US "Olympics of spelling" has been eliminated, although she did not botch her words on stage.

Belinda Gibbon, 14, from Wellington Girls' College, correctly spelled "terraqueous" meaning consisting of, or formed of, land and water, and "upsilon", the 20th letter of the Greek alphabet but failed to make it through to the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland today, as her preliminary written test fell short of the pass mark.

Belinda was not alone in her disappointment as from a pool of 275 spellers, only 41 made it through to the semifinals.

Although sad to have not made it through, Belinda said she was thrilled to have had the opportunity to compete in what is known as the Olympics of Spelling.

"It has been a fantastic experience and I have a new appreciation of the English language. I want to study Latin when I get back to school."

- NZPA