Every number tells a story — and behind every impressive score lies the journey of a young math wizard who turned numbers into a personal victory. The World Maths Championship (WMC) is more than just an international math competition; it’s a stage where kids from across the world challenge themselves, discover their potential, and emerge stronger. In this blog, we bring you exclusive insights from past winners, their routines, and the advice they’d love to share with future champions.
What Makes a Math Champion?
While sharp calculation skills and problem-solving abilities do also matter, what truly defines a student who has won a math championship is their mindset. Previously participating contestants of the World Maths Championship keep constantly talking about discipline, curiosity, and resilience as the real and important secret weapons required for maths. Many of them began their journey just by simply enjoying puzzles or math games and later discovered the thrill by participating in competitive challenges.
These champions highlight how participating in global math Olympiads for kids teaches far more than numbers — it builds confidence, sharpens focus, and grows a sense of global companionship.
Aarav, Grade 4: “My Daily Routine”
Aarav, one of last year’s youngest winners, swears by his carefully balanced schedule.
“I practiced math for 20 minutes every evening and spent weekends solving fun math puzzles with my dad. We made a game out of it — whoever finished the problem faster got to choose dinner!”
His secret? Short, focused practice sessions combined with games like Fraction Bingo and Shape Hunts.
Aarav also emphasizes staying calm under time pressure, a skill he honed using online math contest mock tests for grades 1–8.
Sofia, Grade 7: “My Favorite Problem-Solving Hack”
Sofia is one of the top scorers in the World Maths Championship who is from a middle grade category. She believed that her success came from tackling problems differently.
She mentions that :-
“Whenever I got stuck, I would draw diagrams or turn the problem into a story in my head. It made tricky word problems much easier!”
She also credits free math practice resources and practice problems available through the World Maths Championship registration portal as key tools in her preparation.
Their Advice for New Participants
When asked what advice they’d give to new competitors, our champions advices are as mentioned below:-
- Start Small: Don’t rush into complex problems. It’s very important to master the basics first.
- Practice Consistently: Even 15 minutes daily will make a good difference.
- Enjoy the Process: Turn math into a fun family activity or a small classroom game for kids.
- Don’t Fear Mistakes: Every error is a step towards better understanding, keep practicing and improving .
- Stay Calm on Test Day: Focus on one problem at a time and breathe.
These tips are most often advised and promoted by top-educators who recommend incorporating math Olympiads for elementary students into classrooms through programs for enriching maths knowledge and math contests aligned with course curriculum.
Where Are They Now?
Many former WMC champions have gone on to win other STEM competitions for kids, joined advanced math programs, and contributed to classroom math competition resources as mentors. Some have started math clubs in their schools or participated in international coding and robotics contests.
One particularly inspiring story is of Rina from Singapore, who, after her win in Grade 6, began volunteering to teach math to underprivileged students online.
Want to Know More?
Have questions for our past champions? Curious about what makes the top scorers stand out? Submit your questions for our next champion interview round! Who knows — your question might get answered in our next exclusive feature.
And if your child dreams of becoming a math Olympiad champion, now is the perfect time to join the global math village. World Maths Championship registration is open!