Saudi High schoolers win 3 medals at international astronomy Olympiad
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A group of Saudi high school students returned home on Thursday to a warm welcome after securing bronze medals at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. This marked the first time that the Kingdom participated in the prestigious event, held in Vassouras, Brazil.
The Saudi team, consisting of Joud Basim Al-Lahyani, Hussein Hassan Al-Mubarak, and Fajr Hassan Al-Ubaidan, competed against over 250 students from 53 countries during the ten-day event. Their achievement in securing bronze medals brought pride to the nation.
Joud Basim Al-Lahyani, a high school senior, expressed the team’s pride in representing Saudi Arabia, noting the challenges they faced along the way.
“Thanks to the people who supported us, we were able to overcome these obstacles,” Al-Lahyani told Saudi television.
The students' success was the result of a collaborative effort by Mawhiba, the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission, and the Saudi Education Ministry. These organizations played a crucial role in preparing the students for the 17th edition of the Olympiad. Badr Al-Majradi, competitions director at Mawhiba, highlighted that the three students were selected from over 16,000 candidates after undergoing approximately 560 hours of training over the course of a year.
The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, an annual event inaugurated in 2007 in Thailand, aims to foster a passion for astronomy and astrophysics among young people worldwide. The Saudi students' achievement at this year’s event not only showcases their talent but also underscores the Kingdom’s growing commitment to nurturing gifted students in the fields of science and technology.