Bosnian students achieve historic success at IMO 2026 in Shanghai

The Bosnia and Herzegovina team won one gold medal, two silver medals, one bronze medal, and two honorable mentions at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Shanghai.

Competing against teams from 117 countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina finished 32nd, ahead of Romania, Canada, and several other nations. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Bosnian students have ranked among the world's top 40 teams, CE Report informs via the Government of Sarajevo Canton's official Facebook page.

Vuk Janković won the gold medal, his third gold medal at the IMO. Having completed his third year of secondary school, he will be eligible to compete again next year. Silver medals were awarded to Andrej Krčmar and Adnan Osmić. Krčmar concluded his IMO career with one gold and three silver medals, making him the second most successful contestant in Bosnia and Herzegovina's history.

Osmić matched last year's achievement and now ranks fourth on the country's all-time list. Harun Memić, the youngest member of the team, won the bronze medal and missed a silver medal by just one point. Honorable mentions were awarded to Anja Tešević and Amila Pašić. Tešević also missed out on a bronze medal by a single point.

China claimed first place in the team standings, followed by the United States and Russia. Among the countries in the region, Serbia finished 31st and Croatia 48th.

All six students attend the School of Mathematics for Gifted Students and participate in mathematics training camps. The team leaders in Shanghai were Amar Kurić and Tijana Babić.

On this occasion, Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk said:

"This is proof that a small community, when it invests in the right priorities, can achieve results that surpass even the world's largest systems. Six young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina stood shoulder to shoulder with the best competitors from China, the United States, and Russia. Our obligation is to support them and ensure that this backing becomes a lasting practice."

Sarajevo Canton Minister of Education Naida Hota-Muminović, whose ministry has consistently invested in programs for gifted students, stated:

"Year after year, we continue to prove that systematic work with gifted students delivers results. These young people did not achieve success by chance—behind their accomplishments are years of dedication, high-quality mentorship, and institutions that recognize the value of investing in knowledge."

The Association of Mathematicians of Sarajevo Canton, which organizes preparation programs and training camps for young talents, also expressed gratitude to the institutions that made the team's trip to Shanghai possible:

"The team's participation was financially supported by the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Education, the Republika Srpska Pedagogical Institute, the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Education and Science, and the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of them for their support."

Photo Government of Sarajevo Canton