Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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Inventing ways to protect the environment, identifying the habitats of rare fish species, and creating a test to detect viruses in the body—these were the problems Moscow schoolchildren tackled at international competitions in 2025. They found the best answers to the questions and received 22 gold medals, five silver, and one bronze. Mos.ru reports on the competition preparation process, what motivates the athletes to win gold and silver, and where the winners can further develop their skills.
From Moscow to the whole world
In 2025, 28 Moscow high school students participated in eight official international Olympiads. These competitions are held annually in different countries and cover core school subjects, primarily the natural sciences: geography, biology, physics, and chemistry. Winners gain admission to the country's best universities without entrance exams.
To join the Russian national team, you must first win or become a prize winner at the final stage of the All-Russian School Olympiad (VsOSh) in the current academic year.
"As a rule, students in the ninth, 10th, or 11th grades are eligible to participate in the All-Russian Olympiad. However, there are exceptions, such as when a talented seventh- or eighth-grader competes alongside older students and wins. Teenagers face significant preparation. During the school year, they must regularly attend approximately eight classes per week, and it's also important to participate in training camps: these are the days when older students are excused from school for seven or more days to work exclusively on problem solving in their subject, such as chemistry, under the guidance of experienced coaches who have also won Olympiads in the past. However, the most important thing is for children to prepare independently in their free time; this is 80 percent of their success," explains Alexander Belov, head coach of the Moscow chemistry team.
Those who place first in the All-Russian Olympiad of Schoolchildren then undergo several stages of additional selection to join the Russian team. They must complete challenging tests and solve practical cases at the level of an international Olympiad.
According to our interviewee, the most challenging chemistry competitions are the International and Mendeleev Olympiads. "Schoolchildren are given problems with so-called insufficient conditions, 'guessing games.' This is a comprehensive knowledge test. Those who truly love chemistry, are able to withstand high competition, and are ambitious are the ones who succeed in overcoming all the stages," notes Alexander Belov.
Microorganisms and the human genome
11th grade student Physics and Mathematics Lyceum "Second School" named after V.F. Ovchinnikov In December, Anna Mikhailova won gold at the International Junior Science Olympiad, which took place at the Sirius Federal Territory in Sochi. Prior to that, she won prizes at the All-Russian Olympiad of Schoolchildren in physics and astronomy. She is now 15 years old.
"I've been studying at the lyceum since seventh grade. Around that time, I became fascinated with physics: I became intrigued by how the world works. Gradually, I realized that biology is also an intriguing subject, as it answers the question of how our actions affect the body. My relationship with chemistry, however, was complicated—while preparing for competitions, I had to devote all my energy to solving problems in this subject," she says.
The International Junior Science Olympiad consisted of three rounds. Two were theoretical: participants had to complete a test, choosing the correct answer from four options, and explain a single process—for example, blood flow in the human body—from the perspectives of physics, biology, and chemistry. The third, practical, involved teamwork.
"Specifically, we were asked to examine tiny organisms under a microscope, the names of which we didn't know. By examining how they produce oxygen and how much chlorophyll (green pigment) they contain, we could determine where these creatures live. The study revealed that the microorganisms were deep-sea microorganisms, as they produced almost no oxygen. The task itself seemed simple to me, but we barely had enough time—just three and a half hours," recalls Anna Mikhailova.
A mos.ru interviewee admits that she spends her entire weekend preparing for tournaments, so she barely has time for her hobby—figure skating. But winning the Olympics is more important, and it's not just about winning gold: she plans to enroll in university, pursue advanced physics studies, and study the human genome to develop cures for rare genetic diseases.
Sobyanin: Muscovites won gold at the International Science OlympiadSobyanin: Muscovites win the International Biology Olympiad in the Philippines
Draw a map by hand and protect forests
Seventeen-year-old Kristian Rymarchuk has already graduated from School No. 179 and is a first-year student at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, majoring in energy policy. In 2025, he won a gold medal at the Open International Geography Olympiad, which took place in Moscow this summer.
"For me, studying geography broadens my knowledge of the world. My hobby is traveling. I've visited Serbia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore with my parents. Participating in Olympiads also gives me the opportunity to travel to a new country. For example, in 11th grade, I found myself in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for the Olgenas International Geography Olympiad," our interviewee shares.
The most challenging part of preparing for the Open International Geography Olympiad, he says, was drawing maps by hand: it was a task included in one of the rounds. "I wanted to learn to draw neatly and beautifully to impress the judges," smiles Christian Rymarchuk. He also had to learn to type quickly in English: the computer test was in that language, and each task was limited to 20 minutes.
"I remember a practical assignment—analyzing satellite images showing deforestation in Paraguay and Brazil. The challenge was to solve the problem. I proposed turning part of the green space into a protected area, as the region was experiencing uncontrolled deforestation. I drew a map of the area where humans should not interfere. I was also tasked with developing an abandoned site that had hosted the Dubai Expo several years ago. It could be used as a museum cluster or a park," says the young man.
Easy tests and your own school
Another talented young man interviewed by mos.ru correspondents was Zakhar Degterenko. A graduate of School No. 57, he won silver at the International Biology Olympiad held in the Philippines. In the 2024/2025 academic year, he also won a diploma at the All-Russian Olympiad of Schoolchildren in biology and chemistry, and reached the finals of the same competition in physics. He previously won a prize at the All-Russian Olympiad of Schoolchildren in economics. Zakhar Degterenko, now 18, is studying at two universities: the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and the Central University.
Zakhar Degterenko admits: the workload is serious, but he manages to keep up because he partially mastered the program while preparing for the Olympics.
"I became fascinated with biology in early childhood, when I read books about dinosaurs. Physics has a special beauty and logic, and I started studying chemistry in depth in seventh grade because I felt like I was falling behind. Now I realize that the principles of these sciences are too clear and simple," he notes.
Preparations for international competitions went smoothly.
"The tasks for the International Biology Olympiad in the Philippines weren't difficult. I had to write answers to 60 paper pages of theoretical questions in three hours. I'm glad I didn't have to do it on a computer; my eyes would get tired. The practical test took place in several rooms. In one, dedicated to molecular biology, I prepared a PCR test to detect viruses in the human body; in another, I worked on a microbiology assignment, identifying the contents of test tubes; in a third, on ecology and statistics, I identified the species of fish and drew graphs of its natural cycle. I finished in half an hour," says Zakhar Degterenko.
Mos.ru's interviewee hasn't yet decided what profession to choose, but for now he's teaching: a year ago, he opened his own online chemistry and biology school for students from all over Russia who want to prepare for Olympiads.
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