This one certainly deserves a commentary.
The results of the 2020 International Mathematical Olympiad are out, and Andres Rico Gonzales III won us another gold medal. This is actually our fourth gold. The first two we got in 2016, courtesy of Kyle Patrick Dulay and Farrell Eldrian Wu, and the third in 2018 thanks to Albert John Patupat.
But with this gold, Andres has raised the bar even higher. For out of roughly 600 participants in the pinnacle of all high school math competitions, this Filipino is ranked fourth. Fourth highest scorer in the Olympics of mathematics! In the whole history of the IMO, the only ASEAN countries that have contestants landing in the Top 4 are known powerhouses Vietnam (many times) and Singapore (four times).
Out of the six carefully crafted questions — which the contestants tackled over two days, 4.5 hours each day — this Filipino completely solved five! (Our earlier gold medalists completely solved four, which is typically already gold-worthy.)
The country first joined the IMO in 1988, and just a year after that, Jerome Khohayting brought home our very first silver medal. For the next twenty years, only bronzes and honorable mentions came. We earnestly kept on trying, hoping to prove that Jerome’s silver was not a fluke, that Filipinos can bring home another silver.
Carmela Antoinette Lao broke the dry spell, garnering a silver at the 2010 IMO. She ranked 106th out of more than 500 contestants. With boosted confidence thanks to Carmela’s stellar performance, more silvers came — every year from 2014 to 2019, courtesy of Adrian Reginald Sy, Clyde Wesley Ang, the three gold medalists, and Sean Anderson Ty. And then, of course, the golds. The absolute ranks of Kyle, Farrell and Albert were 41st, 35th and 34th out of roughly 600 contestants, respectively.
Again, Andres’ trailblazing gold placed him FOURTH overall. Younger Filipino contestants will all look up to him, and assure themselves that being fourth-ranked worldwide is doable. Andres Rico Gonzales III didn’t only make us proud, he gave us confidence. Remember that name.
Christian Paul Chan Shio, 2020 Team Leader
Richard Eden, 2016-2019 Team Leader
Jose Ernie Lope, 2013-2015 Team Leader
Julius Basilla, 2011-2012 Team Leader
Ian June Garces, 2007-2010 Team Leader
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