Under the spotlight at the Centre Supérieur hall, when Nguyen The Quan, a 12th grade student at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An Province, was called up to receive the Gold Medal, not only he but also the entire Vietnamese delegation could not hide their emotions. The Quan shared: "I feel very surprised and moved. I feel very proud to have Vietnamese blood, to wear the flag and colors to represent the Fatherland and to receive the Gold Medal - that is so precious".
Not only winning the Gold Medal, The Quan also created a miracle when he ranked 2nd in the entire tournament in the practical test out of more than 400 contestants - a great step forward for Vietnam in an area that was once considered a weakness.
The joy doubled when Tran Le Thien Nhan, from Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, Hue City, not only received the Silver Medal but also the prestigious Thalys scholarship. He shared: "I was really surprised to receive both of these noble awards at the same time. The scholarship will help me orient my future and greatly support my journey to study abroad."
The remaining three Silver Medals went to Ly Ba Khoi, Truong Duc Dung - both from the High School for Gifted Students of Natural Sciences, Hanoi National University, and Nguyen Cong Vinh - a student from Bac Ninh High School for Gifted Students.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Do Danh Bich - Head of the Vietnamese delegation, the return of "big guys" such as the US, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore teams after their absence last year has made the competition more fierce than ever. In that context, the achievements of the Vietnamese delegation have become even more valuable and meaningful. Associate Professor Dr. Do Danh Bich affirmed that the result of 1 Gold Medal and 4 Silver Medals is very good. This year, there are 94 participating teams, including many very strong teams such as the US, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore that have returned after their absence last year. Compared to last year's achievements of 2 Gold Medals and 3 Silver Medals, although there is a decrease of 1 Gold Medal, with such fierce competition, this is a great effort of the students.
According to Mr. Do Danh Bich, the candidates had to pass 2 extremely difficult exams in 2 official exam days, including 1 day of theory exam and 1 day of practical exam, each exam lasting up to 5 stressful hours. This year's theory exam was especially difficult, especially exam number 2, causing many candidates to lose points. Notably, Nguyen The Quan excellently ranked 2nd in the overall competition in the practical exam out of more than 400 candidates, creating a great step forward for Vietnam in an area that was once considered a weakness.
Teacher Do Danh Bich proudly shared: “This shows the great determination of the students in overcoming the practical weaknesses of Vietnam over the past years. In the last two years, we have had students in the top 2 or top 5 with the best practical scores.”
According to Mr. Dang Hong Quang, Senior Specialist in charge of Physics, Department of Quality Management, Ministry of Education and Training, this success comes not only from the students' talents but also from a meticulous and scientific preparation process. To select 5 excellent students, they had to pass 2 national exams according to standard, objective and fair procedures. After having the team, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Quality Management planned a training course with the participation of professors, doctors, and teachers from all over the country with passion and dedication. In particular, the Organizing Committee also invited a number of foreign professors who had won international Olympic prizes to teach online for the students, receiving very positive feedback on the effectiveness.
This achievement continues the impressive results that Vietnamese student delegations have achieved at international and regional Olympic competitions over the past years, affirming the quality of general education as well as the right direction in discovering, selecting and nurturing excellent and talented students in Vietnam.
Looking to the future, Mr. Dang Hong Quang said: "At the end of this year, the Department of Quality Management will organize a workshop on training excellent students, focusing especially on students who meet the standards for international Olympic competitions. We will draw valuable lessons and propose future plans to improve quality. Not only stopping at achievements but also training students at a higher level to ultimately serve humanity and the homeland of Vietnam."
The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is the most prestigious international physics competition for high school students. Established in 1967, the competition is open to outstanding scientists under the age of 20 who are passionate about scientific research but have not yet enrolled in university. The main objective of the IPhO is to test knowledge, analytical skills, critical thinking, problem solving and competence in the field of theoretical and experimental physics at the highest possible level.
The 55th International Physics Olympiad, taking place from July 17 to 25, 2025 in France, has become a special milestone in the history of the IPhO with a record scale, 406 excellent candidates from 94 countries and territories around the world, the largest number ever.
In the closing speeches, meaningful messages were sent to the young generation of science lovers. Professor Camille Galap, President of the University of Paris-Saclay, emphasized: "You have demonstrated that the common language is not English or Chinese, but when we write together an elegant solution, 'Science without borders', you have truly lived that spirit." He also reminded them of their responsibilities: "Analytical skills, theoretical thinking and problem-solving abilities are necessary not only for physics but also for solving the challenges of the modern world."
Ms. Xuan Mi Meyer - Vice President of CentraleSupelec also sent words of encouragement: "You are ambassadors of curiosity, seriousness and discovery. The world needs scientists more than ever to solve the big challenges ahead: climate, energy, health, technology. We count on your ideas, insights and motivation."
Mr. Rajdeep Singh Rawat, Secretary General of the IPhO Organizing Committee, gave special praise to the organizing committee and the contestants: "IPhO 2025 has become a special milestone with a record of 87 participating teams and 5 observing countries. The past week was full of intellectual challenges, intense excitement and deep cultural exchanges that will leave unforgettable memories."
As the night fell on the Saclay plateau and the final applause echoed in the Centre Supérieur, IPhO 2025 came to an end with the message "Physics beyond borders" still echoing. For the Vietnamese delegation, the sparkling medals were not only their own pride but also a vivid demonstration of the potential and will of Vietnamese education in the international arena. This is a great motivation to continue to affirm its position, contributing to the development of science and technology of the country in the new era.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/tu-hao-co-do-sao-vang-tai-le-be-mac-olympic-vat-ly-quoc-te-2025-post649670.html
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