South Africa wins the 2018 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad

South Africa wins the 2018 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad

South Africa was crowned the 2018 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) champion. This year 47 contestants from 9 African countries took part in the 26th PAMO. The South African team came out with flying colours ending up as winners in the overall competition, as well as PAMO-G (the competition for girls).

The PAMO which took place in Nairobi, Kenya from the 23rd to 30th June 2018 is a Mathematics Olympiad catering for young African high school learners. Contestants wrote two tests consisting of three Olympiad problems each: tough questions requiring insight, ingenuity and logical rigorous proofs.

Countries are ranked by taking the total of the scores of their team members. South Africa was ranked the top team; Morocco was second, followed by Tunisia. The other participating countries were Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Botswana and Ghana.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in approximately the ratio 1:2:3. The total numbers of medals awarded are not more than half of the number of contestants. All six South African contestants walked away with individual medals: Kgaugelo Bopape (grade 10 from Horizon International School in Johannesburg) won agold medal, Danielle Kleyn (grade 10 from Hoërskool Parel Vallei in Somerset West), Malwande Nkonyane (grade 12, also from Horizon International School), Razeen Parker (grade 12 from Rondebosch Boys’ High School in Cape Town) and Klara Eybers (grade 11 from Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria) each earned a silver medal. Amber De Decker (grade 12 from Herschel Girls’ High School in Cape Town) obtained a bronze medal.

Kgaugelo Bopape was second overall. Danielle Kleyn came fourth overall and was also crowned Queen of Africa for being the top girl. Klara Eybers also won a silver and Amber de Decker a bronze medal in the PAMO-G competition.

The team achieved this great success under the watchful eye of their team leaders, Dylan Nelson and Lauren Denny, two former medallists of the South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO). Dylan Nelson (Team Leader) describes winning the PAMO as a great achievement for the South African team. “I am happy that all of the hard work both before and during the event paid off. I am very proud of the team, especially Kgaugelo who came second overall and Danielle who was placed fourth overall and crowned as Queen of Africa,” explained Mr Nelson.