Following their victory in the FCNM Mathematics Competitions 2025, students Martín Peñaherrera (IPAC) and Issac Ruales (Logos Academy) were selected to represent Ecuador at the 40th Ibero-American Mathematical Olympiad, held in Temuco, Chile, from September 22 to 29, 2025.
During this prestigious competition, Martín earned a bronze medal, while Issac received an honorable mention, achievements that brought great pride to Ecuador. The participation of Denny Liu (IPAC), also a member of the Ecuadorian delegation, is likewise recognized and celebrated.
The Ecuadorian team was led by M.Sc. Christian Hernández as Head of Delegation, with Dr. Lourival Rodrigues serving as academic coach. Special recognition is also extended to Professor Ebner Pineda, whose guidance and support in preparing the students played a key role in these accomplishments.
Martín shared that receiving the bronze medal filled him with happiness because “this achievement showed me that all the effort and preparation had paid off.”
For him, the greatest challenge of the competition was managing the pressure of the moment, but he was able to overcome it and return home with a medal.
Issac, meanwhile, described the recognition as the culmination of nearly three years of dedication and hard work.
“It was a great honor to raise Ecuador’s flag among the winning countries. At that moment, I also felt capable of achieving much more and realized that there is still so much to learn,” he said.
Both students expressed their gratitude to their families, whom they credit as their primary source of support, as well as to their respective schools.
“My family has always been there to support me. From an early age, they encouraged my passion for mathematics, but especially my mother, who introduced me to these competitions three years ago. I also received tremendous support from my teachers in Manta (Stella Maris), in Guayaquil (Logos Academy), and at my current school, Alliance Academy in Quito,” Issac explained.
Both Martín and Issac hope to continue participating in international competitions and achieving new milestones.
“Learning mathematics is a rewarding and exciting process because it allows people to express their ideas and the unique way they see the world,” Martín noted.
Issac echoed this sentiment, adding:
“This field, like many things in life, requires a great deal of effort and sacrifice. But with the passion I know you will develop, I am confident that you will achieve great things. Even when it seems very difficult, remember that no problem is impossible to solve and no goal is too far away to pursue. Do not give up after the first attempt—keep trying, because I am sure that you will help move not only our country forward, but humanity as a whole.”
