All four members of the South African team that took part in the 27th International Olympiad in Informatics in Kazakhstan will return with medals.
The team that took part in the Olympiad consisted of:
* Ulrik de Muelenaere from Waterkloof High, Pretoria;
* Yaseen Mowzer from Fairbairn College, Cape Town;
* Thomas Orton from Bishops, Cape Town; and
* Robin Visser from St George’s Grammar School, Cape Town.
All four won bronze medals.
The manager of the Olympiad, Peter Waker, is delighted with the medals: “In all 23 years of participation, this is the fourth time we are getting medals for all four participants. The previous occasions were 2010, 2000 and 1999.”
Deputy delegation leader Robert Spencer adds: “Getting a medal is, to say the least, no small feat. We are very proud that the team managed to each get one. I have high hopes for next year in Russia, as two of our team members
are eligible to take part again.”
The four South Africans managed to beat every other entry from Africa except Youssef Ibrahim of Egypt. However, when the team scores are added up South Africa is not only the top performer from Africa, it also ends up in very respectable company.
“A quick calculation shows that South Africa ended up 32nd out of 83 participating countries,” adds delegation leader Sean Wentzel. “We are just behind Germany and Hungary and just ahead of Sweden, Israel and Brazil. Other African countries were not so fortunate. Egypt is ranked 59th, Tunisia 63rd and Nigeria 83rd.”
Top scorer with 100% was Jeehak Yoon from South Korea. He was the only participant with a perfect score. The top 10 places were taken by participants from South Korea, Russia, the US, China, Australia, Iran and Canada.
The process of selecting the team that will represent South Africa at the 28th International Olympiad in Informatics in Russia in 2016 will start on Friday 14 August when learners from all over South Africa will take part in the first round of the Programming Olympiad at their schools.
“This year the contest is online and we expect a record number of entries” says Waker. “Teachers appreciate the fact that there is no marking and that detailed results will be sent to the school.”
It is not too late to enter, and learners with programming skills should ask their schools to enter them.