olympiadJune 4, 2026
66th International Mathematical Olympiad: China Takes Top Spot, 630 Students from 110 Countries Compete
China won the 66th IMO held in Sunshine Coast, Australia, finishing 15 points ahead of the USA, with 630 students from 110 countries competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals.
The 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) concluded in Sunshine Coast, Australia, with the People's Republic of China topping the medal table for the 25th time. China finished 15 points ahead of the United States in second place. A total of 630 contestants — including 69 female participants — represented 110 countries and territories. Each student tackled six problems worth 7 points each, for a maximum possible score of 42. Gold medals were awarded to 72 contestants who scored 35 or above, silver medals to 104 students scoring 28 or above, and bronze medals to 145 students scoring 19 or above. The IMO is the world championship mathematics competition for pre-university students and represents one of the most prestigious academic olympiads globally. Strong IMO performance is closely watched by top universities — including MIT, Cambridge, and Peking University — as an indicator of exceptional mathematical talent. International applicants with olympiad medals often gain a significant edge in highly selective admissions processes. Full official results, country rankings, and individual scores are available on the IMO's official website at imo-official.org.