>> reporter: zalia twirling as she made history.r to win the scripp's national spelling bee since it started 96 years ago. >> and there is your champ. >> reporter: the last african-american competitor to reach the final round was magnolia cox from ohio in 1936. she was not able to stay in the same hotel as her white competitors. 85 years later, zalia making history. >> the second i heard it i knew i knew it. i get the word, and i know it immediately. >> reporter: turns out spelling is zalia's second love. her first love, basketball, making history there, too. three guinness world records. the latest for dribbling six balls simultaneously for 30 seconds. and tonight here, zalia with her message. >> i'm hoping a lot of people see me and maybe think about going into spelling and general -- just education in general. >> making history and making us proud. i'll see you monday. extract building a better bay area. moving forward. finding solutions. this is abc7 news. strike heat warnings and advisories are in effect for many inland parts o

>> reporter: zalia twirling as she made history.ever win the national spelling bee since it started. . the last african-american competitor to reach the final round was 1936. 80 years later, zalia making history. >> the second i heard it i knew i knew it. i get the word, and i know it immediately. >> reporter: turns out spelling is her second love. her first love, basketball, making history there, too. three guinness world records. the latest for dribbling six balls simultaneously for 30 seconds. and tonight here, zalia with her message. >> i'm hoping a lot of people see me and maybe think about going into a spelling and general -- just education in general. >> making history and making us >>> building a better bay area. moving forward. finding solutions. this is abc7 news. >>> right now, triple digits and part of the east bay and this is a dangerous heatwave that will stay with us through the weekend. good afternoon and thank you for joining us. >> you're watching abc7 news at 4:00 live on abc7, hulu live, and wherever you stream.

. >> zalia avant-garde in the building!inviting 14-year-old spelling whiz and basketball prodigy zalia avant-garde as his personal guest. >> who do you want to detonight? >> naomi osaka. i'm really excited to meet her. >> reporter: zalia there to witness this moment. >> and the espy goes to naomi osaka. >> reporter: naomi osaka taking home an espy for best female athlete. >> it's been really tough for a lot of us, and for me i just want to say i really love you guys, and this is my first espys. so it's really cool to be surrounded by all these incredible athletes. >> reporter: stars like tom brady, brianna stewart and stephen curry taking home the top awards. this year's jimmy v. award for perseverance presented to chris nikic. [ applause ] he became the first person with down's syndrome to complete an iron man finishing the race 14 minutes before the allotted 17 hours were up. >> it's easy to make excuses and quit. i don't do excuses, and i don't quit. [ applause ] >> reporter: "gma's" own robin roberts taking the espy sta

. >>> the accolades and perks are pouring in for the spelling bee champ zalia avant-garde faster than her skills at basketball dribbling. she has already received three full ride college scholarships, to lsu including one to her home state of louisiana. and the first african-american spelling champ was a bit of a hit at this week's espy awards where i caught up with her. she told me she was looking forward to meeting tennis star naomi osaka. >> she is just so talented. >> oh, my gosh. >> i was too busy being mesmerized by her, she was the cutest thing ever. she is from new orleans, which i'm going to stick with saying new orleans, because i try to say "new orleans" and she was like, that's not it at all. and she's so humble but so much to brag about. she has three guinness world records under her belt for like dribbling, basketball-related things and obviously won the spelling bee, and now she was personally invited by anthony mackie, who is the host of the espys, and she had a seat front and center. he did not disappoint. and she got to see naomi osaka. >> that is incredible. congrat

you'll remember the name, zalia avant-garde, the 14-year-old spelling champ making an appearance at thead an emotional post responding to body shaming comments on social media. we'll take a look at that coming up. >>> also, t.j. surprising an incredible teacher. no idea what else is in store. >> and then, dwayne johnson and emily blunt, they are surprising him too. they're all joining us live. we'll be right back. ♪ they're all joining us live. we'll be right back. ♪ with less moderate-to-severe eczema why hide your skin if you can help heal your skin from within. with dupixent adults saw long-lasting, clearer skin and significantly less itch. don't use if you're allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur including anaphylaxis, which is severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems, such as eye pain or vision changes, or a parasitic infection. if you take asthma medicines don't change or stop them without talking to your doctor. talk to your doctor about dupixent. welcome! it's time to see which chew is best in show for long-lasting flea and tick protectio

zalia talked to the media about scrolg through pictures of national spelling bee competitors and no one looked like her. to get to her office -- her office -- her -- her, i reiterate. every picture in the hallway are people that look like me that were secretaries of the treasury until janet yellen -- well, older than certainly the presiding officer, but looked like we do. she saw miknola cox's face and told reporters when she was competing, she taught of magnolia and thought of her 85 years later. now more kids are seeing themselves in the faces of champions. that's why black history matters, mr. president. it matters in the class roovment it matters in movies, in matters on the senate floor, it matters in books, it matters in the national news. it is how we shine a light on the injustices that magnolia and zaila had to overcome and how we show kids these aren't dreams only for certain kids, these dreams, these aspirations, these achievements in 21st century america should be for everyone. i ask that everyone join me in honoring magnolia cox. mr. president, i ask that the previous comme