The 2025 IMO, held in Australia from 10/7 to 20/7, brought together 630 contestants from approximately 110 countries and territories. China secured first place with 231 points, 15 points ahead of the second-place team, the US.
Both Heng Ye and Li Yen earned perfect scores of 42/42. They were among only five students to achieve this at the 2025 IMO, the other three hailing from Russia, Canada, and Japan.
 |
Deng Li Yen (left) and Zhang Heng Ye. Photo: Sina |
Deng Li Yen (left) and Zhang Heng Ye. Photo: Sina
Li Yen attends Shanghai High School. Last year, as a 10th grader, he attained a perfect score in the Chinese Mathematical Olympiad (CMO), earning a spot on the IMO team.
Previously, in middle school, Li Yen won a bronze medal in the Combination and Probability category at the Alibaba Global Mathematics Competition. He was also the first middle school student to win a medal in the competition since its inception.
According to his homeroom teacher, Li Yen often studies independently in the library during exam periods. In preparation for the IMO, the school reduced his daily homework load, allowing him dedicated time and space to focus on mathematics.
17-year-old Heng Ye, a student at Bashu Middle School in Chongqing, also boasts an impressive record. In 2023, he won a gold medal at the CMO and was selected for the national team.
Dien Jia Bao, the math team coach who has worked with Ye for the past six years, describes him as perceptive, humble, and energetic. But what impressed Bao the most is Ye's dedication and persistent hard work.
However, Ye believes that effective learning is not solely about relentless practice. It also requires balance and pursuing hobbies to rejuvenate and maintain long-term inspiration. Besides studying, Ye enjoys playing the piano and soccer.
Before the IMO, Ye remained calm, letting things "take their natural course". He maintained a regular routine, arriving at school at 8 a.m. and going to bed at 10 p.m.
"Sleep is key to maintaining alertness and sharp thinking," Ye said.
Ye's father added that his son also plays games and watches videos like his peers, but he is very disciplined. "Even with his phone or computer right next to him, Ye never touches them during study time. Since he was young, he has always been self-motivated in his studies, never requiring parental supervision," he said.
Ye has received an acceptance letter from the talented program of the Department of Mathematics at Peking University.
"I want to research difficult problems, strive to solve them, and become a professor," Ye shared.
Huyen Trang (CNR, The Paper, Sina)
