What's Really Behind Victories at Subject Olympiads?
What is the price of one bronze medal at an international subject Olympiad?
If it's measured not in grams of metal, but in human effort, the price is colossal. Behind it are hundreds of hours of intensive preparation, constant anxiety before the start, the hearts of parents and teachers, and most importantly, the child's ability to overcome themselves again and again. After all, true success is never an accident.
That's why the results of Turkmen schoolchildren at the Turkic International Mathematical Olympiad (TIMO 2026), which took place in Baku, should be seen not just as another official news story, but as a profound, inspiring story of fortitude, discipline, and character development.
How the Baku Tournament of Young Intellectuals Was Held
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, became a magnet for young mathematical talent from July 2-6. The TIMO 2026 International Olympiad brought together schoolchildren from Russia, Turkey, India, the Philippines, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
This intellectual competition has gained notoriety in the professional community for its unconventional and original tasks. Unlike the school curriculum, which requires the use of memorized formulas and standard algorithms, the Mathematical Olympiad tests mental flexibility, spatial imagination, logical intuition, and the ability to find solutions to apparent mental impasses under tight time constraints.
The Turkmenistan team performed with distinction in this intellectual competition, winning four official awards. For example, Ayhan Orazdurdyyev (a 4th-grade student from the Joint Turkmen-Russian School named after A.S. Pushkin) scored 80 points, which earned him a bronze medal among 56 participants in the category.
Alymuhammet Orazov, a sixth-grade student from Ashgabat School No. 6, scored 64 points among 54 participants in the category, as did Ayjeren Muhammetnazarova and Gulshat Muhammetnazarova (both from Mary). Although they did not place in the top three, they demonstrated strong results, receiving an Honorable Mention as a sign of recognition from the jury.
Bilimli Kent served as the official representative of the TIMO Olympiad in Turkmenistan, providing coordination and training for the Turkmen team.
One telling detail is worth noting: even a score of 80 points out of a possible 100 brought young Aykhan Orazdurdyyev a bronze medal. This fact demonstrates the complexity of the problems presented and the exceptional consistency of results among the schoolchildren participating in the Olympiad.
Behind Every Result Is Character
Behind every line in the final protocol stands a living child with their own hopes and dreams, as well as worries and even fears.
The young talent Aykhan Orazdurdyyev demonstrated an enviable maturity for his age and a penchant for the exact sciences. Ten years is an age when most children want to play and enjoy summer vacation. But Aykhan chose the path of discipline and regular intellectual pursuits. Competing with 56 peers from all over the world and achieving 80 points is the logical result of constant training and the ability to focus on a specific question at the right moment while not giving in to strong opponents.
Alymuhammet Orazov is slightly older than him. Sixth grade is a turning point, when school mathematics becomes noticeably more difficult. During the intellectual competition, Alymuhammet demonstrated his ability to withstand enormous emotional pressure and maintain composure when tasks require an unconventional approach and deep analysis.
A special round of applause went to Mary's representatives, Ayjeren and Gulshat Muhammetnazarov. Their success on the international stage underscores the continued progress in our country's push to conquer the pinnacle of subject Olympiads. The girls in Baku demonstrated their determination and ability to think logically and creatively.
The Olympiad Isn't Just a Medal; It's a School of Life
Looking at photos and reading victory reports, most people only notice the tip of the iceberg: "medals awarded," "climbed the podium," "performed brilliantly," "well done." But as a parent, I look at such photos with a special feeling, involuntarily imagining the parents of these students.
I imagine how anxious their parents were during those hours when their children sat in the exam hall, awaiting the difficult questions. How they clenched their fists, how they worried about every second that seemed to stretch on for an eternity, and then I feel how they couldn't hold back tears of joy, pride, and relief as they hugged their little conquerors of school science.
For me, the Olympiad isn't about status or diplomas. It's about forging character. About the ability to withstand a blow when a task isn't solved on the first try. About the ability to not give up after mistakes, cope with overwhelming anxiety, and maintain faith in success when you are surrounded by strong competitors from dozens of countries.
The Second "Front" – The Role of Family and Mentors
From the outside, Olympiad problems may seem dry and abstract: formulas, number theory, combinatorial matrices. However, behind every diploma lies a colossal daily effort and a rejection of familiar childhood pastimes.
Intellectual sports require no less dedication and discipline than professional athletics. To compete at the level of international subject Olympiads, it's not enough to simply be naturally talented. You need to learn to make decisions instantly, think outside the box, and maintain composure under the pressure of a ticking clock.
That's why the success of our students is a natural synergy of three key factors. Among these, in addition to iron discipline and hard work, a special place is occupied by the skill of mentors and teachers who are able to ignite a spark of interest in the learning process in children. And of course, the support of parents, their faith in the abilities of their children when they seemed ready to give up in the face of insurmountable problems.
The Most Valuable Victory
After several years, the scores in the final standings of intellectual competitions may fade from memory, and the medals won will find a modest place on the shelves of a family archive. But the children will retain what matters most: the iron willpower shaped by competitions like the one held in Baku in July. And the ability to persevere in the face of difficult challenges, the ability to control emotions, and self-confidence will help them in life.
And this is, perhaps, one of the most important awards our children win at Olympiads.
Maya ANNAYEVA
