La Jornada: “I train because I like mathematics, not because of the awards”: Emiliano Fernández

Emiliano Fernández Almazán, student at the Universidad Veracruzana (UV), won the gold medal in the 33rd International Mathematics Competition for University Students (IMC), the most important academic level tournament in the world on the subject. He is the first Mexican to place among the top 10 since the country began its participation in the contest in 2011.

“I feel very happy with this medal, it was a goal I had since I entered college. I prepared myself since high school, when I discovered that I really liked mathematics, and a teacher motivated me to participate in competitions,” he mentioned to The Day.

According to the results published by the IMC, Fernández Almazán obtained 80 points and was placed in the range of positions 6 to 9, the best result recorded by a Mexican in the history of the contest. Previous gold medal winners for Mexico ranked 41st, 43rd, 72-82 and 76-88.

With Fernández Almazán there are six Mexicans who have obtained the gold medal in the history of the contest and he is the first from Veracruz.

“I train and study a lot because I like mathematics, not because of the awards. The most beautiful thing is the learning process; it is not about being a genius, it is about enjoying the path of knowing, learning and moving forward with enthusiasm,” he added.

His performance in competitions is solid. In 2025 he was included in the honor list of the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition and, before, he won gold, silver and bronze medals in the Mexican University Mathematics Olympiad and the Ibero-American Interuniversity Mathematics Competition (CIIM).

After winning gold in the IMC, Fernández Almazán, who is also a professor at the Mathematics Olympiad, plans to pursue a master’s degree at the Mathematics Research Center (Cimat), in Guanajuato, and later pursue a doctorate, although he is still analyzing options. The IMC is organized by University College London and takes place at the American University of Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad. The 2026 edition took place from July 27 to August 3 and brought together 453 contestants from 47 countries. Tests include algebra, analysis (real and complex), geometry, and combinatorics.

honorable mention

This year, Fernández Almazán and Jesús Tadeo Cruz Soto, also a UV student, were the only Mexicans present in the competition. Cruz Soto earned an honorable mention for his performance.