The world’s smartest young maths minds have descended on the Sunshine Coast for the International Mathematical Olympiad 2025.
The Australian Maths Trust (AMT), on behalf of the Australian mathematics community, is hosting the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), from 10-20 July 2025.
It is the second time since the event began in 1959 that Australia has hosted the prestigious event, the first being Canberra in 1988, when a 12-year-old Australian mathematician, Terence ‘Terry’ Tao, became the youngest ever winner of a gold medal at IMO. Terry is now widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest mathematicians and is attending IMO 2025 as Patron of the IMO to give a special guest lecture to the participating students.
More than 630 students from 114 countries are participating in the prestigious competition – the largest number ever to attend an IMO competition. The official competition exams, from 15-16 July, are taking place at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre at Novotel Twin Waters.
Mr Mike Clapper, CEO of the Australian Maths Trust (AMT), said the IMO brings the brightest young minds from around the world.
“These are students from years 9 – 12 or equivalent from over 100 nations. The competition represents the culmination of many years of mathematical endeavour and hundreds of attempts at solving problems,” Mr Clapper said.
“This is about as big as it gets for school-age mathematics in Australia, we are excited to see what these students can achieve including our own Australian team which includes students from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.”
Mr Clapper said IMO is the largest and most prestigious of all the international Olympiads, having grown from seven countries in 1959 to over a hundred each year. Australia has participated since 1981.
“IMO brings mathematics to the forefront. These students all work incredibly hard and it’s a testament to their dedication to make it to IMO. More than a maths competition – and the competition will no doubt be tough – IMO presents the opportunity for the over 600 students and the AMT to meet the next generation of problem solvers, share meals and cultural experiences, and learn together,” Mr Clapper said.
“These students represent the brightest and keenest maths minds in the world with their results from IMO setting them up for entry into the world’s best universities. All of these students quickly become highly contested employment prospects back in their own countries and across the globe with many past competitors attracting attention from some of the world’s biggest employers including leading tech and financial companies.
“We welcome IMO participants from all over the world, and we hope all the students, their leaders and mentors, enjoy their time on the beautiful Sunshine Coast and soak up everything that Australia has to offer. We know they will make invaluable connections along their IMO journey,” Mr Clapper said.
IMO 2026 will take place in China, and IMO 2027 will take place in Hungary.
IMO 2025 is made possible by AMT’s Principal Sponsor XTX Markets, a leading algorithmic trading firm, and proud donor to maths education globally, along with other sponsors including the Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast. For more information on IMO 2025, visit https://imo2025.au/.
