Two months of intense preparation allowed Heidy de la Caridad Rodríguez Fuentes, a twelfth-grade student at the Máximo Gómez Báez Vocational Pre-University Institute of Exact Sciences in Camagüey, to win a bronze medal at the Ibero-American Mathematics Olympiad held in Chile from September 22 to 29.
Although she aspired to achieve a higher result, she confessed that the competition posed a challenge for the Cuban delegation, which included three other students who also earned silver and bronze medals, as well as an honorable mention.
The event, she said, included two theoretical exams of high rigor and also allowed for the sharing of techniques among delegates from the 22 participating countries.
On a personal level, Rodríguez Fuentes acknowledged the unconditional support of her family, especially her coach Heriberto Donet Carrillo, a professor of the subject with over four decades dedicated to training talent.
Heidy, who has received gold and bronze medals, as well as honorable mentions in Central American, Pan American, and Ibero-American competitions, is currently preparing to participate in provincial and national contests, with her sights set on Cybernetics, a field she will pursue after completing her pre-university education.
Regarding Mathematics, she noted that she prefers Geometry; however, she also finds Combinatorics interesting, though she asserts that solving problems brings her special satisfaction.
Results like those achieved by Cuba, which ranked tenth in the Olympiad, make Professor Heriberto proud, as he was responsible for leading the Cuban delegation this time.
During this year, he mentioned that in events of this type, the province has secured a bronze medal and two honorable mentions and expects to add more favorable results in the upcoming International Girls' Olympiad scheduled for next November and in the Central American Olympiad to be held in December, both in Mathematics and with representation from Camagüey.
Taken from the Cuban News Agency (ACN)
