Memories of the IMO

From an early age, Tran Dai Thanh Danh was fascinated by numbers and logic puzzles and often sought out mathematics books to read. In sixth grade, after a teacher showed him an Olympiad problem, Danh began dreaming of one day entering an international competition and testing himself against students from around the world.

For Danh, mathematics offers a rich variety of ways to think, with every problem opening up an intriguing new approach.

Ahead of the 2025-2026 academic year, he set himself two goals: competing at the Asia Pacific Mathematical Olympiad (APMO) and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

Getting there required Danh to make it through several rounds of selection. He won first prize in Vietnam’s National Excellent Student Competition, qualifying for the APMO. In the selection process for Vietnam’s IMO team, six students were chosen from 50 candidates, with Danh ranking third.

Before the competitions, Danh underwent additional training at school and later at the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics. His days at the institute ran from 8am to 5pm. After classes, he would usually play sports on the grounds before returning to his studies in the evening.

“The program was extremely demanding, with many difficult problems. There were nights when I stayed up until 4am trying to solve them,” Danh said.

“Even so, my time there brought me so much joy and happiness because the teachers taught us, supported us and took such good care of us.”

At the APMO, contestants have four hours to solve five problems. Danh had to manage his time carefully, completing the first two problems quickly so he could devote more time to the harder ones. In the end, however, he completed only four of the five.

The IMO follows a different format, taking place over two days, with contestants given four and a half hours to solve three problems each day. Danh also felt greater pressure competing alongside students from many countries. Looking back, he believes he did not manage his time as effectively as he could have and therefore fell short of the result he had hoped for.

In early June, Danh was delighted to learn that he had won an APMO gold medal. His school, teachers and family called and messaged to congratulate him.

When the IMO results were announced, he initially felt disappointed that he had not won the top medal, but soon regained his focus, closing one chapter and preparing for the academic journey ahead.

“Trần Đại Thành Danh was directly admitted to the Gifted Bachelor’s Program in Mathematics at the University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of the student.”

“For me, the IMO was my dream competition and also my biggest goal. So the IMO silver medal is a major achievement after years of hard work, along with all those months spent studying with the team under the guidance of our teachers,” Danh said.

“It was an incredibly meaningful, beautiful period and one of the most memorable times of my life.”

Looking back, Danh believes his passion, persistence and commitment to mathematics helped him cope with the pressure and kept him from giving up when confronted with difficult problems.

Three years on his school’s mathematics team and two months of intensive training in Hanoi proved an emotional journey, deepening his appreciation and gratitude for the teachers who devoted their time to guiding and supporting him.

Why he chose a gifted mathematics program

In 2026, Tran Dai Thanh Danh was granted direct admission to the Gifted Bachelor’s Program in Mathematics at the University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

He chose the program because he wants to continue pursuing his passion for mathematics in an academically rigorous, research-oriented environment.

Danh hopes university will give him an early opportunity to engage in scientific research and participate in specialized seminars in the fields that interest him. He also wants to broaden his academic network and study with scientists whose work he admires.

In the coming years, Danh plans to continue participating in Olympiad competitions while studying and researching specialized mathematical literature, with the ultimate goal of pursuing theoretical mathematics.

He knows the path ahead will not be easy, but remains determined to follow it through his passion for the subject.

The University of Science has awarded Danh its Science Excellence Scholarship worth approximately $12,000, equivalent to four years of tuition at the university.

Le Huyen