Team USA earns four gold medals at the 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad, with one student earning the top gold medal, according to the American Chemical Society (ACS). A total of 235 students from 60 countries competed at this year’s remote-access International Chemistry Olympiad, which was coordinated from Istanbul.
Alex Li wins the top gold medal in the competition, placing first in the overall ranking of students. The four members of the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) team are:
- Anugrah Chemparathy, Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon, Calif.
- Alex Li, Lexington High School, Lexington, Mass.
- Ananthan Sadagopan, Westborough High School, Westborough, Mass.
- Alec Zhu, Lexington High School, Lexington, Mass.
“ACS congratulates Team USA on their outstanding performance under extraordinary circumstances in this year’s International Chemistry Olympiad,” says ACS CEO Thomas Connelly Jr., Ph.D. “As a proud sponsor of the U.S. team, we are always inspired to see the dedication of these students throughout the Olympiad process. We are especially excited this year to celebrate the team’s success in earning four gold medals, including the top gold medal in the competition.”
Three mentors supported Team USA leading up to the international competition: Melissa Barranger Mathys, Ph.D., Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, head mentor; Joseph Houck, Ph.D., Penn State University in University Park, Pa., college mentor; and Esther Hines, Billerica Memorial High School in Billerica, Mass., high school mentor.
Previously, Team USA won four gold medals in 2017 and 2018, and members of the U.S. team earned the top gold medals in 1999 and 2000.
ACS has sponsored the American team annually since the U.S. joined the Olympiad in 1984. Principal funding is through the ACS Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Chemistry Olympiad Endowment, with additional support from other donors.
The International Chemistry Olympiad originated with Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary in 1968. Soon, other Eastern European countries joined the event; Western Europe began participating in 1974. The first U.S. team competed in 1984, winning one silver and two bronze medals.
For more information, visit: www.acs.org
