Winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee can be pivotal for the champion and, in some cases, almost prophetic.
That was the case for Scott Isaacs, the competition's 1989 winner; Balu Natarajan, the 1985 winner; and Molly Dieveney Baker, its 1982 winner, Time magazine reported on Wednesday.
Baker's winning entry was psoriasis, a word that 20 years later came back into her life.
"I got a skin biopsy after I had kids," she told Time. "The doctor called me back in a week later and said, 'It turns out you have psoriasis.' I burst out laughing."
Like Baker, other spelling bee winners' victory-words have played key roles in their lives, whether it was in a new milestone or sharpening the skills needed for their career, according to the report.
After three days of competition, the 89th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee finale will be held Thurs., May 26, at 8 p.m., ET, where the winning word could once again forecast the speller's future.
