Math wizards represent SA at Olympiads
Two pupils from northern-suburbs high schools have been chosen to represent South Africa in two major maths Olympiads this year.
Reddam Durbanville Grade 12 pupil Minkyum Kim and The Settlers High Grade 10 pupil Moied Baleg were chosen by the SA Mathematics Foundation to compete in the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad and the International Mathematical Olympiad, according to the foundation’s spokeswoman, Marisa Louw.
The two Olympiads brought together the best young mathematicians from across the globe, “fostering a spirit of friendly competition and intellectual growth”, she said.
Minkyum will participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad, held in Japan from Sunday July 2 to Thursday July 13, and Moied is currently taking part at the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad taking place in Rwanda until Sunday May 22.
Minkyum previously represented South Africa at the International Mathematical Olympiad, held in Norway, last year (“Durbanville brothers represent SA at maths Olympiads”, Northern News, August 2022).
Minkyum hopes to make more friends once he sets foot in Japan at the Olympiad.
“In the previous international Olympiads I've been to, I think I was focused too much on the mathematics and didn't spend this opportunity connecting with people around the world, so this year I'm looking most forward to making friends with people from across the world,” he said.
Moied said he was thrilled to be competing among the best.
“I was very excited and could hardly believe it, although quite nervous, because the competition is intense, and the chance of doing badly is high. I was also proud of myself, because I beat people who have been doing maths Olympiads for much longer than me,” he said.
“Before the PAMO, I believed that the most important thing was doing well at the Olympiad and the learning experience, which is partially true, except now I think having fun and meeting people my age from all over Africa is just as important, and I will definitely be looking forward to this in future Olympiads that I participate in.”