Spelling Bee Co-Champs Surprised by Favorite Athletes Jordan Spieth and Dez Bryant

Scripps National Spelling Bee 2016 co-champions Nihar Janga and Jairam Hathwar joined Kelly Ripa and guest host Common on Live with Kelly Tuesday, and to no one’s surprise, the two beat the hosts in a spelling competition. But Hathwar was awestruck when they played a video of his hero, professional golfer Jordan Spieth, personally congratulating him. Spieth even invited him to come watch when he plays in New York later this year.

Janga also got a message from his sports hero. The celebration he did after spelling his final word correctly — pounding his chest and making an “X” with his arms — was inspired by Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver Dez Bryant. Janga said Bryant called to congratulate him and invited him to a Cowboys game next season.

Apparently being a couple of the best spellers in the world and receiving surprise messages from their sports heroes isn’t all these two have in common. During the spelling competition against Ripa and Common, Ripa showed the boys her spelling of the word “Hoolaulea” and asked if it was correct. Both were so repulsed at the spelling that they couldn’t even be near it and tried to move away.

Watch how Nihar Janga and Jairam Hathwar won the 2016 Scripps Spelling Bee:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.