Australia’s six-member secondary school student team excelled at the 2014 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 to 13 July.
The star of the Australian team was 17-year-old Alexander Gunning, who was one of only three in the world to attain a perfect score, Australia’s first IMO perfect score and best individual ranking result. He shared first place with students from China and Taiwan. Alex is a returning medallist. In 2013 he won his first gold medal and was individually ranked 8th, while in his first attempt the previous year he won a bronze medal.
Competing against more than 500 contestants from 103 countries, which represent 90% of the world’s population, the 2014 Australian team brings home one gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Our team improved Australia’s ranking from 15th last year to 11th position overall with 156 points, just one mark outside the top ten.
This year six Asian countries were represented in the top 10, with China number one. Russia, Ukraine, Canada and the USA filled the other four places, just ahead of Australia. Australia’s highest ranking in its 34 years of participation was 9th in 1997.
