6:59 AM PDT 5/31/2013 by THR Staff
ABC
Arvind Mahankali
After correctly spelling "knaidel," a German-origin word for dumpling, to win the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday night, 13-year-old Arvind Mahankali made the media rounds on network rivals Good Morning America and Today.
Mahankali, who scored a trophy along with a $30,000 cash prize, finally prevailed at the Bee following failed attempts in 2012 and 2011 -- he placed third both years, and was knocked out of the competition because of German words.
The brainiac from Bayside Hills, N.Y., appeared calm and cool on both Today and GMA, explaining his post-victory pokerface to co-host Josh Elliott on the latter program: "At that time, it didn't register that I'd won. I was actually ecstatic to have the championship."
He told Today: "This year I decided that, no matter what, I wouldn't be eliminated on a German word." His strategy? Study, study, study.
Watch the clip below.