European Math Olympiad Israeli Students Win Two Gold Medals

Israel’s brightest young minds made global headlines this week as four Israeli high school students earned top accolades at the 2025 European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) held in Pristina, Kosovo. Competing against 219 participants from 56 countries, the Israeli team secured two gold medals and two honorable mentions, marking a significant achievement in international mathematics.

Neta Ilani, a 12th-grader from De Shalit High School in Rehovot, placed 5th overall, one of the highest individual scores in the entire competition. Olga Basov, an 11th-grade student from Ironi G High School in Haifa, earned the second gold for Israel and finished 11th internationally. Both are alumni of the prestigious Israeli Young Scientists Team, and Ilani currently participates in Israel’s national physics and computer science teams.

Their teammates also shone: Maayan Ravid and Maya Cohen, both students at Kfar Hayarok in Tel Aviv, received honorable mentions. Ravid is a national biology team member, while Cohen is part of the computer science team showcasing the remarkable interdisciplinary excellence of this delegation.

The Olympiad spanned two days, challenging participants with high-level problems in algebra, geometry, combinatorics, number theory, and beyond. Israel’s success reflects a decade of investment in EGMO and similar international competitions, with this year’s team trained at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the leadership of Prof. Dmitry Novikov and head coach Lev Radziwillovsky.

The students’ participation is made possible by a joint initiative of the Education Ministry and the Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, which support elite training programs for Israel’s science Olympiad teams.

“This is the result of consistent, professional educational excellence,” said Education Ministry Director General Meir Shimoni. Yarom Ariav, chairman of the Future Scientists Center, hailed the students as a source of national pride, while Weizmann Institute President Prof. Alon Chen praised their curiosity, perseverance, and brilliance.

Israel’s young scientists continue to excel on the world stage, not only representing academic excellence but also reflecting the nation’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in STEM fields.

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