{"news":[{"uid":5198,"title":"Double double gold in China","teasertext":"For the Swiss Science Olympiads, this summer has been a historical success. Apart from many other impressive achievements, the Maths and Economics Olympiads both came home from China with two gold medals. We asked their leaders about the secret to their success - and about the nature of competition.","short":"For the Swiss Science Olympiads, this summer has been a historical success. Apart from many other impressive achievements, the Maths and Economics Olympiads both came home from China with two gold medals. As a small country, Switzerland is punching above its weight at these contests. We asked the team leaders about the secret to their success - and about the nature of competition.","body":"

How do you approach preparation for the Olympiad?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Maximilian (economics): <\/strong>As team leaders, I believe motivating our contestants is super important. At the very beginning of the competition, we set three goals together as a team: First, to learn as much as possible. Second, to meet incredible, like minded people, and third, to win Switzerland\u2019s first ever gold medal at the International Economics Olympia<\/a>d.<\/p>\r\n

How do you motivate participants to do their best without making them feel pressured or stressed?<\/h2>\r\n

Raphael (mathematics):<\/strong> There is no optimal strategy to push participants without overexerting or overstressing them, it depends on the individual participant. Some are naturally more easy going, some more tense.<\/p>\r\n

Mathys (mathematics): <\/strong> For me the most important is being present in case they need individual support, in particular emotionally. Given that the team is made of six contestants who have proven their skill throughout the year, I want to make sure that they are aware of that and that they are in the best possible conditions to meet their goal.<\/p>\r\n

Do you think competition is generally a good way to encourage people to develop themselves? <\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Maximilian: <\/strong>Ambitious goals can create an incredible sense of team spirit and give everyone something exciting to work toward. At the same time, the journey has to be fun. We made sure that preparation wasn't just about studying and performing. Through game nights, karaoke, and simply spending time together, the contestants became close friends who supported one another. Ultimately, I think the best environment combines high ambition with a great experience. <\/p>\r\n

Mathys:<\/strong> I am actually quite opposed to the concept of competition. I think it can be an efficient means for contestants to gain confidence in themselves, but it\u2019s very important to deconstruct it and not see it as an end in itself. It is necessary to point out that the Science Olympiad (or more generally science) is not about competing against others, but rather competing against yourself and your own obstacles and becoming a better scientist, whatever better means.<\/p>\r\n

As the Science Olympiad, we celebrate achievements like your team\u2019s gold medals publicly, for example with <\/span>press releases<\/span><\/a> or social media posts. Do you feel like \u201chyping up\u201d these success stories can discourage other participants?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Raphael: <\/strong>Quite the opposite really! I think that in 2023, when Mathys<\/a> was the first Swiss participant to win gold again after many years, this showed our other participants that this is doable. They might not have worked as hard as they did without this role model. Of course, it can lead to frustration for some who strive for a specific goal but fall short. However, to avoid that, we  shouldn\u2019t silence the hype around our success stories but rather put emphasis on the exceptionality of the accomplishment.<\/p>\r\n

Mathys: <\/strong>I think Science Olympiad does it in a nicely balanced manner. The hype is pleasant for the gold medalists and it gives us a platform to talk about what we do, but it\u2019s important to not make everything revolve around the gold medalists, for example by interviewing other contestants too.<\/p>\r\n

What do you personally appreciate about your Olympiad that has nothing to do with medals?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Raphael:<\/strong> Well, as many childhood stories told us: it\u2019s not about the treasure and the gold, but the friends we made along the way. I think finding like minded friends is especially encouraging for our young mathematicians who excel at applying logic but sometimes don\u2019t quite feel the need to participate in social trivialities. It is certainly easy to become friends with people with the same interests as you, and I believe this might be a kickstarter to some participants social life.<\/p>\r\n

Annual theme \u201cLook up!\u201d:<\/strong> Who do we look up to? What do we see, when we look up \u2014 maybe using a telescope at the new Astronomy Olympiad? Just as a ship can use the stars to navigate, role models can help us find our path. In 2026 we meet inspiring people and those inspired by them. We present talent promotion practices worth looking up to. And we gaze at the sky. Subscribe to the newsletter <\/a>or follow us on Instagram<\/a> so you don\u2019t miss anything!<\/p>","datetime":1785914280,"datetimeend":0,"newstype":1,"newstypetext":null,"links":"","subjects":["Volunteering"],"image":["https:\/\/mathematical.olympiad.ch\/fileadmin\/_processed_\/8\/f\/csm_20260719_100808510_iOS_18db55a5fd.png"],"link":"https:\/\/science.olympiad.ch\/en\/news\/news\/double-double-gold-in-china","category":[{"uid":4,"title":"Association"},{"uid":10,"title":"Mathematics"},{"uid":49,"title":"Economics"},{"uid":5,"title":"Startseite"}]},{"uid":5183,"title":"Champions de maths: \u00abUne esp\u00e8ce rare!\u00bb","teasertext":"20minutes sur les deux Genevois qui ont d\u00e9croch\u00e9 une m\u00e9daille d'or aux Olympiades de math\u00e9matiques \u00e0 Shangha\u00ef.","short":"","body":"","datetime":1784906760,"datetimeend":0,"newstype":1,"newstypetext":null,"links":"https:\/\/www.20min.ch\/fr\/story\/geneve-champions-de-maths-une-espece-rare-103607747","subjects":["Results"],"image":["https:\/\/mathematical.olympiad.ch\/fileadmin\/_processed_\/a\/c\/csm_Bild_Revue_de_presse_weiss_6bdf140831.png"],"link":"https:\/\/mathematical.olympiad.ch\/en\/news\/news\/champions-de-maths-une-espece-rare","category":[{"uid":10,"title":"Mathematics"},{"uid":5,"title":"Startseite"}]},{"uid":5186,"title":"Doppelgold in China: Schweizer Mathematik-Talente \u00fcbertreffen alle Erwartungen","teasertext":"Vom 9. bis 21. Juli versammelte die Internationale Mathematik-Olympiade \u00fcber 600 junge Mathegenies in Shanghai. Zwei Genfer gewannen Gold, ein Urner und eine Urnerin Bronze, zwei weitere Jugendliche aus Genf und Freiburg erhielten Ehrenmeldungen. Was steckt hinter dem erstaunlichen Erfolg?","short":"Vom 9. bis 21. Juli versammelte die Internationale Mathematik-Olympiade (IMO) \u00fcber 600 junge Mathegenies aus \u00fcber 100 L\u00e4ndern in Shanghai. Zwei Genfer gewannen Gold, ein Urner und eine Urnerin Bronze, zwei weitere Jugendliche aus Genf und Freiburg erhielten Ehrenmeldungen. Vor drei Jahren war bereits eine einzelne Goldmedaille f\u00fcr die Schweiz eine einzigartige Sensation. Seit 2023 feiert die Schweizer Mathematik-Olympiade eine erstaunliche Erfolgsstr\u00e4hne. Was steckt dahinter?","body":"

Gold ging an:<\/p>\r\n