South Africa’s top high school minds have made the nation proud by delivering a historic performance at the 2024 International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), the world’s most prestigious maths competition for school learners.
Hosted in Australia between 10 and 20 July, the event brought together over 100 countries, all vying for global recognition in complex problem-solving.
The South African team placed 38th out of 110 nations—its highest ranking in more than two decades.
Leading the charge was Youkyum Kim from Reddam House Durbanville in Cape Town, who secured a silver medal.
Bronze medals were awarded to Moied Baleg (The Settlers High School), Eli Williams and Ellen Grant-Smith (both from Westerford High School), Pocoyo Pun (Elkanah House), and Yian Xu (Redhill High School in Sandton). Grant-Smith also earned an Honourable Mention for her performance.
Yian Xu stood out not only for her bronze medal win but also for being officially recognised as Africa’s top female high school mathematician, a powerful moment for young women in STEM across the continent.
The competition itself isn’t for the faint-hearted. Over two grueling days, students faced six problems, three per day,with just four and a half hours each session to tackle them.
While many adults break a sweat trying to calculate tips or tax, these teens were solving abstract, logic-driven puzzles that would give even seasoned engineers pause.
Professor Seithuti Moshokoa, Executive Director of the South African Mathematics Foundation, couldn’t hide her pride.
“We’re so pleased with how our team did this year. They worked really hard, and this achievement shows just how talented they are,” she said.
The team’s journey to the IMO was made possible through support from Old Mutual South Africa, continuing their investment in the country’s academic excellence.