Sowetan Grade 12 Maths whizz walks off with a medal at the 61st International Mathematics Olympiad held in Russia
The annual competition attracts the brightest mathematical brains on the planet and winning the bronze medal makes him the first black South African student in the history of the competition to win a medal.
Soweto born, Kgaogelo Bopape, a grade 12 learner from Horizon International High School made history when he won a bronze medal at the 61st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) which was held in Russia this year. The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the World Championship Mathematics Competition for High School students and is held annually in a different school.
The annual competition attracts the brightest mathematical brains on the planet and winning the bronze medal makes him the first black South African student in the history of the competition to win a medal. Together with six of South Africa’s finest Mathematics, the students represented our country at this annual global event which they participated in virtually due to COVID 19.
Kgaogelo who loves STEM subjects hails from a humble background and is the eldest of two boys. Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, Kgaogelo was still able to excel and represent South Africa and Horizon High School in the world’s most prestigious international Olympiad. Hard work, determination, passion, and his love for Mathematics gives him a competitive advantage in a subject that baffles millions of students around the world.
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“This award is one I share with all my colleagues at Horizon International High School and I am so proud to be recognized for my achievements. The competition is really tough and takes so much studying and I am thankful to my Mathematics teacher who not only is my mentor but a really incredibly dynamic educator,” says Bopape whose looking forward to his final matric examinations.
Kgaogelo’s achievement has become a source of great pride for the institution, his community, and the country as a whole. Kgaogelo is a studious learner and continues to achieve and succeed in all that he does. He takes great value from being mentored by the math department at Horizon High school. His mathematics teacher, Mr. Huseyin Akinci, assisted him tirelessly to prepare throughout his journey.
“The Horizon Educational Trust takes great pride in its motto of “Excellence in Education” and this is something that Kgaogelo has demonstrated whole-heartedly. The Horizon Educational Trust is incredibly pleased and honored to have such a dedicated learner at one of its Institutions,” says Huseyin Akinci, Bopape’s Mathematics teacher at Horizon Primary School.
Kgaogelo was one of six high school learners who represented South Africa this year. He has been participating in the IMO for the past 2 years and thoroughly enjoys the experience each time. The key to Kgaogelo’s impressive achievements is his persistence to keep improving himself in what he does. His passion and drive to achieve his personal best at all times are certainly shown in the classroom and all the competitive events that he has participated in.
Kgaogelo Bopape has also participated and won numerous accolades such as:
- 2017 Gr9, Top 100 in SAMO – Top African junior learner in Maths in SA and Represented SA in Pan African Maths Olympiad (PAMO) in Morocco.
- 2018 Gr10, Top 100 in SAMO – Top African senior learner in Maths in SA and Represented SA in PAMO in Kenya and received Gold.
- 2019 Gr11, Top 100 in SAMO, Top African senior learner in Maths in SA and Represented SA in PAMO in Capetown and received Gold.
- Kgaogelo Bopape also represented SA in the 2019 International Maths Olympiad (IMO) in England received honorable mention.
- 2020 Gr12 Top 100 in SAMO – represented SA in IMO in Russia and received Bronze Medal
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