| Keyword | Description |
|---|---|
| International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) | A worldwide math competition for high school students. |
| Maryam Mirzakhani Award | An award for the top female math competitor in the Americas. |
| Prestigious | Well-respected or important. |
Mexican high school students showed their math prowess by winning five bronze medals at the 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Shanghai, China. The IMO is a tough global math competition where students tackle six challenging problems over two days. This year, Andrea Sarahi Cascante Duarte from Morelos received the prestigious Maryam Mirzakhani Award.
Mexico placed third in Ibero-America, following Brazil and Peru, but dropped one spot from last year’s results. Globally, Mexico ranked 40th among nearly 100 countries. The bronze medal winners were Takumi Higashida Martínez from Mexico City, Juan Luis Manríquez Sequera from Baja California Sur, Sebastián Sotomayor Trujillo from Nuevo León, Javier Caram Quirós from Mexico City, and Iker Torres Terrazas from Chihuahua.
China led the global rankings, with the United States, Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam following. The Mexican team’s achievements are supported by the Mexican Mathematics Olympiad (OMM), which has been involved with the IMO since 1981. Guadalupe Russell Noriega, the head of OMM, noted that support from the private sector and public has been crucial for their participation.
The IMO began in Romania in 1959 and has become a benchmark for math talent worldwide. About half of the participants win medals, with bronze being the most common, followed by silver and then gold. The dedication of nearly 300 volunteers, including teachers and students, helps the OMM train and support these young mathematicians.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Medal | Medalla |
| Competition | Competición |
| Mathematics | Matemáticas |
Time to discuss
- Why are international competitions like the IMO important for students?
- What role do organizations like the OMM play in a student’s success?
- How can winning a medal impact a student’s future opportunities?
Let’s Write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph
- Describe how teamwork contributed to the success of the Mexican team at the IMO.
- What challenges do you think students face when preparing for competitions like the IMO?
