MEDIA RELEASE
20 July 2009
Sydney Student Takes Out Gold in Germany
The six-member Australian student team won two Gold Medals for just the second time at this year’s
International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held over the past week in Bremen, Germany. Australia was
placed 23rd out of a record 104 countries, with China in first position and Japan second.
Sampson Wong, of James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney was one of the Gold Medal winners,
adding to the Bronze he was awarded last year when he competed in Madrid. Sampson, who lives in
Dundas, is aged 16 and in Year 11. His interest in mathematics was sparked by Geometry. He is undecided
about a future career but thinks it will be maths related.
Stacey Law, also of James Ruse, won a Bronze Medal and was only two short of winning Silver. Stacey
is about to turn 17 and is also in Year 11. She enjoys reading Manga comics and novels, playing volleyball
and tennis, doing jigsaw and logic puzzles and playing piano. Stacey has had a natural interest in maths
since she was very young and was looking forward to the whole IMO experience. She hasn’t decided
on future study but it will most likely include mathematics.
The other four team members are from Melbourne, including Andrew Elvey Price, of Brunswick Secondary
College, Melbourne, who won the other Gold 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 tens of 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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