Australian Teen Mathematicians in the World’s Top Third
Six of Australia’s top mathematics students performed well at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Norway, one of the world’s toughest.
Australia ranked 29th out of the 104 countries that took part, and the students achieved five medals and an Honourable Mention.
The six students from schools in NSW and Victoria, ranging from Year 8 to Year 12, competed against more than 570 of the brightest mathematics students from across the world.
“We are thrilled with the results at IMO this year. On behalf of AMT, I would like to congratulate William, Sizhe, Zian, Christopher, Tony and Grace on their outstanding results at this year’s IMO. Achieving 29th in the world for Australia is an amazing result, and we are so very proud of these students, especially being the first students to travel internationally again after a few years’ break from travelling for IMO due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Nathan Ford, CEO, AMT.
Medals awarded included a Gold Medal for Tony Yuzheng Wu, Bronze Medals for William Cheah, Sizhe Pan, Zian Shang and Christopher Tran. An Honourable Mention went to Grace Yuan, the only female representative on the Australian team.
The selected students represent five schools from, NSW and Victoria. They have spent a year participating in exams and intensive training to make the cut.
This year’s team included Year 8 student, William Cheah, from Melbourne’s Scotch College who has outperformed senior high school students to represent Australia in mathematics. William is the youngest member of the IMO team and has been in the Australian Maths Trust’s Olympiad training program since he was in Year 5. He sat the Year 7 level of the Australian Mathematics Competition when he was in Year 4, receiving a gold medal. At IMO he received a Bronze Medal.
The maximum possible points scored at IMO was 42 points per contestant. Gold Medals were awarded for those students scoring 34 and over, Bronze was awarded for those students scoring 23 and over.
Australia’s Mathematical Olympiad program is run by the not-for-profit Australian Maths Trust. Olympiad programs are funded through the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda. Optiver is the National Sponsor of the Mathematical Olympiads.
Medal winners
- William Cheah Year 8 Scotch College, Vic Bronce
- Sizhe Pan Year 11 James Ruse Agricultural High School, NSW Bronze
- Zian Shang Year 11 Scotch College, Vic Bronze
- Christopher Tran Year 11 The University High School, Vic Bronze
- Tony Yuzheng Wu Year 12 Killara High School, NSW Gold
- Grace Chang Yuan Year 12 Methodist Ladies’ College, Vic Hon. Mention
Learn more about the Mathematical and Informatics Olympiads at: https://www.amt.edu.au/olympiad-programs
Image by Roman Friptuleac