Talkshow: Indonesian Math Prodigy Goes International

Summary

In an engaging interview on the C Morning Show, 2024 International Mathematical Olympiad gold medalist Kevin Adisaya shares his inspiring journey from winning a bronze in the National Olympiad to securing the top spot internationally. He discusses the rigorous training process, the competitive nature of the Olympiad, and the importance of problem-solving skills over rote memorization. Kevin's advice for aspiring mathematicians emphasizes the joy of discovery in math and the value of a supportive community. His story serves as a testament to hard work and passion, inspiring viewers to pursue their interests with dedication.

Takeaways

• 🏅 Success in International Competition: Six Indonesian students participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad in Bath, UK, winning a gold, three bronze, and two honorable mentions.
• 🥇 Gold Medal Journey: Kevin Adisaya, the gold medalist, started his journey by participating in the National Mathematical Olympiad in 2022, where he won bronze, and eventually secured the gold in 2024.
• 📚 Rigorous Training: Kevin underwent a series of training camps, starting with 30 participants, narrowing down to 15, then to six, and finally preparing for the IMO with intense problem-solving sessions.
• 🧠 Problem-Solving Focus: The training and competition emphasize developing new ideas and solutions to fresh, unseen problems, unlike school math which often involves memorizing formulas and theorems.
• 🌏 Global Competition: The IMO is a prestigious event with participants from 1,109 countries, highlighting the global nature of the competition.
• 📉 Competitive Process: The selection process for the Indonesian team is highly competitive, with only the top scorers from each training camp proceeding to the next level.
• 🏛️ Olympiad Duration: The IMO event lasts for about a week, with the actual competition consisting of two days of solving three problems each day.
• 📝 Scoring System: In the IMO, participants are ranked based on the number of correct answers to the problems, with each problem worth seven points.
• 🧘 Mental Preparation: Kevin emphasized the importance of mental preparation on the day of the competition, suggesting calming activities like prayer to focus the mind.
• 💡 Finding Joy in Math: Kevin advises not to force interest in math but to find enjoyment in problem-solving and to learn from peers who share a passion for the subject.
• 🎓 Future Ambitions: Kevin is yet to decide on his university, showing a humble and open-minded approach to his future educational path.

Q & A

What event were the Indonesian students participating in at Bath, United Kingdom?

The Indonesian students were participating in the International Mathematical Olympiad, an event often referred to as the 'Olympics for the brains'.

How many students from how many countries participated in this year's International Mathematical Olympiad?

There were 609 students from 109 countries who participated in the event.

What were the achievements of the Indonesian team at the International Mathematical Olympiad?

The Indonesian team won a gold medal, three bronze medals, and two honorable mentions.

Who joined the studio to discuss the International Mathematical Olympiad?

Kevin Adisaya, the 2024 International Mathematical Olympiad gold medalist, joined the studio to discuss the competition.

What was Kevin Adisaya's initial achievement in the National Mathematical Olympiad before the International Mathematical Olympiad?

Kevin Adisaya initially won a bronze medal in the National Mathematical Olympiad in 2022.

How many training camps did Kevin Adisaya attend before the International Mathematical Olympiad?

Kevin Adisaya attended three training camps before the International Mathematical Olympiad.

What was the duration of the first training camp that Kevin Adisaya attended?

The first training camp lasted for about 2 weeks.

How many students were selected from the first training camp to proceed to the second training camp?

15 students with the most scores from the first training camp proceeded to the second training camp.

What is the main difference between the math problems in school and those in the International Mathematical Olympiad?

In the Olympiad, the problems are about critical thinking and problem-solving with very new and fresh problems, whereas in school math, it is more about memorizing theorems and formulas for specific types of problems.

How did Kevin Adisaya prepare himself mentally on the day of the competition?

Kevin Adisaya prepared by calming himself down, praying near a lake, and focusing on being mentally ready rather than studying.

What advice does Kevin Adisaya have for making math enjoyable for kids?

Kevin suggests not forcing kids to like math if they don't, but instead, learning from someone older who loves math and sharing thoughts and ideas to create a better journey.

What is Kevin Adisaya's view on forcing children to like math?

Kevin Adisaya believes in not forcing children to like math and instead finding their own interests.

What is the scoring system of the International Mathematical Olympiad problems?

Each problem in the Olympiad is worth seven points, and Kevin Adisaya solved problems one and two correctly, got points on problems four and five, and one point on problem six, totaling 29 points.

How did Kevin Adisaya find his love for math?

Kevin started having an interest in math during elementary school and really started loving it in junior high school while preparing for the national Olympiad, seeing math as a subject for discovering the world of numbers.