OBMEP awards gold medals to 683 students from across the country.

OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools) was what propelled my entire academic career. I came from a school in the countryside and never dreamed of achievements of this kind.” The statement by Mateus Mundstock Mendes de Carvalho, from Rio Paranaíba (MG), represents thousands of young people whose lives have been transformed by the country’s largest scientific competition. Next Monday (30), Mateus, currently an undergraduate student at IMPA Tech, will receive the seventh gold medal at the National Award Ceremony of the 19th OBMEP, in Rio de Janeiro.

Promoted by IMPA (Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics) with resources from the Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation and Education, OBMEP brings together more than 18.5 million participants every year, from the 6th grade of elementary school to the 3rd year of high school, in 99.9% of Brazilian municipalities.

The National Awards Ceremony marks the awarding of 683 gold medals to the students with the best performance across the three levels of the competition. “The OBMEP gold medal awards ceremony is the most enchanting event on our entire academic calendar,” emphasizes the Director-General of IMPA, Marcelo Viana.

More than just recognition, OBMEP medals open doors to higher education. Institutions of excellence, such as IMPA Tech, Unicamp, and USP, offer selection processes aimed at students who have won awards in scientific olympiads, valuing the performance and potential of young people who have received national medals, like Mateus.

A former student of the Colégio de Aplicação da UFV (Federal University of Viçosa), he had a remarkable trajectory in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools), winning seven gold medals. These awards guaranteed his participation in advanced mathematics classes of the PIC (Junior Scientific Initiation Program). “The results in the Olympiad inspired me and sparked a great ambition, which led me to high school at a federal school and now to IMPA Tech. Not to mention the immense learning I gained from the PIC,” says Mateus.

Brothers André and Gabriel Müller, aged 15 and 12, residents of Jaraguá do Sul (SC), are also among the award winners of the 19th edition. At the ceremony, André will receive his third gold medal and his younger brother his first.

“OBMEP was responsible for introducing me to a more interesting side of mathematics, the trips offered allowed me to meet people I identified with, and having my brother with me at this ceremony is a chance to celebrate his achievement up close,” commented André. “The Olympiad gave me the willpower to study and strive for a better position. It’s an achievement that will go on my resume,” concluded Gabriel.

Mateus, André, and Gabriel will join the other students to receive their much-desired medal. At the ceremony, IMPA will also present the Girls in the Olympics Trophy , created in 2018 to encourage female participation in scientific competitions. The award recognizes young talent and seeks to reduce gender inequalities in mathematics. Sixteen female students will be honored in this edition.

Jorge Vitório Pereira, deputy director and manager of the IMPA Olympiad, also emphasizes that the award goes beyond medals and trophies — it is a celebration of the effort and overcoming of thousands of young people. “Every year, OBMEP surprises us with the creativity and determination of the students, proving that when we give them opportunities, Brazil shows its potential.”

The National Awards Ceremony is the highlight of the event, but the medalists' experience begins with the trip to Rio de Janeiro. Divided into delegations, they arrive from all Brazilian states and the Federal District. The OBMEP coordination organizes all the logistics, covers the airfare for medalists from public schools, and provides accommodation for all participants. At the hotel, the students participate in activities, lectures, and a prize draw during the welcome dinner.