Indian-Origin Teen, Son of IIT-JEE Topper, Wins Gold at Global Programming Olympiad
Indian-Origin Teen, Son of IIT-JEE Topper, Wins Gold at Global Programming Olympiad
Agastya Goel, a teenager of Indian descent from California, has secured his second gold medal at the 36th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), held this year in Egypt. The competition, renowned as one of the most challenging for high school programmers, saw Agastya achieve an impressive score of 438.97 out of 600, placing him fourth overall.
This prestigious event, which took place from September 1 to September 8, featured top young coders from around the globe. The top spot was claimed by Kangyang Zhou of China, who scored a perfect 600. Out of the 34 gold medals awarded, another Indian, Kshitij Sodani, finished in 21st place.
Agastya Goel’s accomplishment has sparked widespread attention on social media, where his success has been likened to that of his father, Ashish Goel. Ashish, a professor at Stanford University and a former IIT-JEE topper, is celebrated for his contributions to technology and education. His achievements in the academic and tech world have been well-documented, including his work with companies like Twitter and Stripe.
One social media user highlighted the parallel between father and son, noting, “Agastya Goel just got his 2nd IOI Gold medal for the US, the hardest programming contest for high schoolers in the world. He was #4 overall. His father Ashish Goel was #1 of ~1M in the IIT exam 1990 in India and a PhD and CS algo professor at Stanford! Like father, like son.” Another user remarked on the impressive father-son dynamic, suggesting, “What a talented father-son duo!”
The IOI, established in 1989 by UNESCO, is known for its rigorous two-day competition that challenges participants with complex algorithmic problems. This year’s event reaffirmed its status as a premier platform for showcasing the brightest young minds in computer science.
