Six secondary school students who represented Hong Kong at the 57th International Mathematical Olympiad in July won three gold medals, two silvers and a bronze, and ranked in the top 10 for the first time, coming ninth out of 109 teams.
As the highest-level and largest global international mathematics competition for secondary school students, the Olympiad has been held each year by a different country or region since 1959. The 2016 competition took place in Hong Kong.
Being selected to represent your country or region at the Olympiad is tough.
Local secondary schools enter their elite students into a preliminary contest. The top 100 then receive nine-months' training in a series of enhancement programmes held by the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education and the International Mathematical Olympiad Hong Kong Committee.
The six best performers are then selected to compete in the Olympiad.
Girl power
Seventeen-year-old Mandy Kwok from Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School loves mathematics.
"I enjoy playing chess and piano, but maths is my favourite subject. I do not give up easily when facing a difficult maths question.
"Maths' connection to all things provides a framework for creative thinking and problem solving. I enjoy the process of finding solutions."
Each country sends a team of six students to compete in the Olympiad, and less than a tenth of them were female this year.
The only girl to represent Hong Kong in the competition for the past two years, Mandy won a bronze medal at each competition.
"I felt a bit awkward at the beginning, being the sole female teammate. But I was also excited and could not believe I was one of the team members, because perhaps everyone who loves maths dreams of being a part of this team. Now I think my medals show my strength."
World's best
Harry Yu from La Salle College is also on the maths team. He has competed in the Olympiad for the last three years with improving results.
He won bronze in his first year at the event, silver in the second, and gold in the most recent competition.
However, Harry said the medals are not as precious as the knowledge and experience gained at each event.
This year's Olympiad saw 602 contestants from 109 countries and regions, marking the highest turnout for the event.
Harry said: "I have met the world's best maths competitors and mentors in the International Mathematical Olympiad. I can make friends with them, learn their culture and understand how they deal with maths questions in different ways."
Problem solving
Harry’s teacher Luk Mee-lin said maths can boost students' thinking capacity and help them develop in other disciplines.
"Calculating can train students' ability to think. When a student is good at maths, they will also be good at analysis and problem solving."
Mandy’s teacher Lee Wing-yan emphasised the importance of communication with students.
"Teachers should talk more with students about their answers, how to modify their calculations, and see if there are any quicker solutions. Through communication, students can learn new ideas."
While Harry and Mandy will need to study for next year's Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination, they will also continue their Olympiad training programmes.
They hope to be selected to represent Hong Kong again at the next Olympiad in July in Rio, and Mandy is aiming for a gold medal.
"I look forward to competing in the Olympiad in Brazil next year. I hope to get a better result and win a silver medal, or even gold," Mandy said.
