Triumph of Belarusian schoolchildren
The results of the 65th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO-2024) have been summed up in Great Britain. During the Olympiad, held in Bath, Belarusian schoolchildren won five gold and two bronze medals.
Young mathematicians solved six tasks over two days. The tasks covered different areas of the school maths course: geometry, number theory, algebra and combinatorics.
The Belarusian team took fifth place in the team standings among 109 countries. These successes confirm the high level of domestic education and training of schoolchildren, as well as the effectiveness of teachers' work. Victories at international competitions also motivate young people to further achievements in science and education.
This year our team was formed on the basis of the results of the Republican Olympiad in Mathematics and the results of training camps to prepare for participation in the international Olympiad. The Belarusian team included Matvey Vylegzhanin, a graduate of gymnasium No. 41 named after V.H. Silver Minsk, Mikhail Raikhman, a student of this gymnasium, Ivan Korshunov and Matvey Areshchenko, graduates of gymnasium No. 2 in Vitebsk, Maxim Monastyrski, a gymnasium student, as well as Pavel Titov, a graduate of gymnasium No. 51 in Gomel.
It should be noted: the schoolchildren have already had many years of experience in preparing for the IMO. Thus, Ivan Korshunov and Pavel Titov are bronze medallists of the IMO-2023 in Japan. Pavel Titov is a bronze medallist of the IMO-2022 in Norway. Matvey Vylegzhanin and Mikhail Raikhman - silver medallists of IMO-2023 in Japan. Such a brilliant experience and level of preparation gave the guys another chance to get the highest gold medals this year.
Among the achievements of Maxim Areshchenko - silver and bronze of the International Zhautykov Olympiad. In turn, Maxim Monastyrsky excelled himself at the Republican Olympiad, winning a diploma of the first degree.
Matvey Vylegzhanin, Mikhail Raikhman, Ivan Korshunov and Pavel Titov returned from Great Britain with gold medals. Maxim Monastyrski and Matvei Areshchenko took bronze.
The team from Belarus was led by Dmitry Bazylev, candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, head of the Department of Geometry, Topology and Methods of Teaching Mathematics of the BSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, and David Zmeikov, lecturer at the Uni-Centre-XXI (Institute of Professional Development and Retraining) in the field of information technology and management of BSU. It is worth mentioning that since their school years they have been actively involved in the national and international Olympiad movement. In this respect their experience of participation in Olympiads as participants, coaches, task developers, jury members, heads of international teams allowed to organise the preparation of our team at a high level and get a high result.
Belarus has a clear system for identifying and training gifted students. Work begins in the primary grades through a system of competitions, in the secondary school (grades 5-7) through a system of Olympiads for younger pupils, and for pupils in grades 8-11 through participation in the national Olympiad. The leading role in mathematics training of schoolchildren is played by BSU, whose researchers involve children in the development of their mathematical abilities through elective classes, classes in part-time mathematics schools, summer training camps on the basis of ‘Brigantina’ and NDC ‘Zubrenok’, as well as training camps for candidates for the Belarusian team on the basis of the BSU lyceum.
Meanwhile, all the participants of our team, who have completed their studies at the third stage of education and training, have decided on their future choice in professional activity. Thus, Matvey Areshchenko is already a student of the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Informatics of BSU. Ivan Korshunov entered the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology to specialise in ‘applied mathematics and computer science’ on the target direction of the Ministry of Industry. Upon graduation, the young man will be employed at the Scientific and Technical Centre ‘LEMT’ of BelOMO. Pavel Titov and Matvey Vylegzhanin will become BSU students. Among our winners are two 11th-graders who will be the basis of the 2025 team.
Reference: The International Mathematical Olympiad is the oldest of the international subject Olympiads. It was first held in 1959 in Romania, since then it has been held annually, with the exception of 1980. Gradually the geography of participants expanded. Belarus has been participating in the Olympiad since 1992, demonstrating high results every year. Until 2024, the best result of the Belarusian team was shown in 1999, when they took 6th place among 81 countries.
They won 3 gold medals and 3 silver medals.
We congratulate the students and their teachers on this outstanding victory and wish them new mathematical achievements and success!