Cape Town - High school maths wizards are celebrating their performance at the International Mathematics Olympiad 2024 held in Bath in the UK, where they competed against 609 contestants from 108 countries.
The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) said Team SA ranked 53rd, with one silver and two bronze medals at the event held on July 11-22.
The South African team prepared for the Olympiad under the leadership of Dylan Nelson and Kerry Porrill at the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences from June 12 to July 3, where they were joined by around 30 top-performing countries and five African teams, creating a robust environment for honing their skills.
Ben Maree, a grade 10 learner at Westerford High School, claimed a prestigious silver medal, while Ellen Grant-Smith from Westerford High School and Moied Baleg from The Settlers High School each earned a bronze medal.
Yian Xu, from Redhill School in Johannesburg received an Honourable Mention for her commendable performance.
The other team members were grade 10 learner Eli Williams from Westerford High School, and Youkyum Kim, a grade 11 learner from Reddam House Durbanville.
Reflecting on her experience, Grant-Smith expressed her gratitude and excitement.
“I was very grateful to make it into the team and happy that I achieved what I did.
“I had a lot of fun meeting people from around the world and being able to travel,“she said.
Her mother, Sarah Grant-Smith, shared her pride, saying: “We are extremely proud of her achievement as well as that she was allowed to participate in both the IMO and the mathematics camp in Beijing that preceded it.“
The Olympiad, regarded as the world’s largest and most prestigious mathematics competition, challenges teams with demanding exams.
Each four-and-a-half-hour exam consists of three tasks that assess the candidates’ aptitude for mathematics.
The solutions are meticulously scored, and medals are awarded to the top performers.
Baleg’s father, Abdalmonam Baleg, said: “Moied is very satisfied with his achievement and happy that the effort and preparation he put in over the previous months has paid off.
“As a parent, I am extremely proud of him for putting all the work and achieving this result, and will always continue to support him. He had a great experience overseas and we are honoured to have raised him in this way.”
Executive director of the South African Mathematics Foundation, Kerstin Jordaan, said the team’s success highlighted their talents and underscored the important role the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad plays in developing young mathematicians.
The South African team’s success would not have been possible without the support of Old Mutual South Africa, the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants, the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and Jane Street UK.
Cape Argus