MEDIA RELEASE
20 July 2009
Melbourne Student Takes Out Gold in Germany, Ranking 10th in the World
Andrew Elvey Price, of Brunswick Secondary College, matched the world's best students in this
year’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held over the past week in Bremen, Germany.
Australia was placed 23rd of a record 104 countries and Andrew was placed in10th position overall.
Essentially solving all six problems to win a Gold Medal, Andrew added to the Silver he won in
2008 when he competed in the IMO in Madrid. Andrew, who lives in Coburg, is 17 and in Year 12.
This was only the second time that the six-member Australian student team, four of whom were from
Melbourne this year, has won two Gold Medals at the IMO.
Aaron Chong, who is about to turn 17 and is in Year 11 at Doncaster Secondary College, won a
Silver Medal, scoring just two points off Gold which would brought Australia’s total to three Gold Medals.
Alfred Liang, of Trinity Grammar School, won a Bronze Medal. Dana Ma, of Melbourne Girls Grammar
School, was ill on day two of the competition. Unable to add to her sound score on day one, Dana
received an Honourable Mention.
Sampson Wong, of James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney was the other Gold Medal winner.
Stacey Law, also from James Ruse, won a Bronze Medal.
It was the 50th IMO and to celebrate many distinguished mathematicians, including former IMO
Gold Medallists, attended. These included Australian Terry Tao, Gold Medallist in 1988 and the
only student to ever win an IMO Gold Medal before turning 13 years old. Terry is a Fields Medallist,
considered the mathematics equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
The not-for-profit Australian Mathematics Trust, located at the University of Canberra, administers
the IMO program in Australia. Trust Executive Director, Professor Peter Taylor, noted that these students
have reached a very high standard after years of training, largely by volunteers. He mentioned in particular
former Olympians, Dr Angelo Di Pasquale of the University of Melbourne and Mr Ivan Guo from the
University of New South Wales, who were the IMO Team Leader and Deputy Leader respectively.
"These exceptional students are first identified in the Australian Mathematics Competition, which hundreds
of thousands of students of varying mathematical abilities participate in annually. The Competition tests
basic skills acquired at school and the student’s ability to use those skills in different contexts. Successful
students who wish to pursue further mathematics learning then go on to participate in a range of school-based
activities under teacher supervision, through to more advanced work. As a result, thousands of students are
better prepared for University study and future employment", Professor Taylor said.
The Australian Department of Innovation Industry, Science and Research sponsors Australia’s participation
in the IMO and its support widens access to the program to thousands of students. The Australian Association
of Mathematics Teachers and the Australian Mathematical Society are supporting sponsors.
For further information, interviews and photographs, please contact:
Professor Peter Taylor, Australian Mathematics Trust, 02 6201 2440; 0412 258 699
Suzanne Fraser, Manager, Australian Mathematics Trust, 02 6201 2954; 0437 670 610
Dr Angelo Di Pasquale, IMO Team Leader, 03 8344 4306 ; 0402 383 248
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