Israeli teams won more than a dozen medals, including 5 gold medals, at the 2026 International Science Olympiad competitions, where competitions in physics, biology, and chemistry held around the world throughout July.
Israel competed alongside more than 90 other countries at the International Physics Olympiad in Colombia, where the Israeli delegation won five medals. Tenth-grader Ruth Kozlovsky won a gold medal, while 12th-graders Noam Fleissig, Ahaya Kellner, Eitan Rotman, and Elad Agmon each earned silver medals.
To secure their medals, participants completed two examinations: a practical experiment in thermodynamics and a theoretical examination covering subjects including optics, particle physics, and nuclear physics.
The students trained for the competition at the Jusidman Science Center for Youth at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The team was led by academic director Oleg Krichevsky and head coach Pavel Radzivilovsky.
The president of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev said the Israeli physics team's success in Colombia "is clear proof of the high caliber of science education in Israel."
Biology Olympiad in Lithuania
Israel's success continued at the International Biology Olympiad in Lithuania, which was attended by nearly 80 nations. Students who trained at Tel Aviv University won four medals, including two gold medals.
Olga Besova and Yehuda Lester earned the gold medals, while Yarden Hoch and Saar Paperni each won bronze medals.
Competitors completed both practical and theoretical examinations. The practical section focused on molecular biology, biochemistry, plants, and animals, while the theoretical portion covered topics including cells, plants, animals, genetics, and more.
Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan
Israel also performed strongly at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan, where students competed alongside participants from more than 90 other countries. The Israeli delegation won four medals, including two gold medals.
The gold medals went to 12th-graders Itamar Ben Shmuel and Yogev Cohen Ben Zaken, while Yehonadav Marienberg and Daniel Granovsky each earned silver medals.
As every year, the chemistry team was trained at the Technion's Schulich Faculty of Chemistry under the leadership of academic director Prof. Zeev Gross and head coach Dr. Reut Shapira. The delegation was accompanied by Prof. Zeev Gross, Dr. Eyal Barnea, and Dr. Yury Andreev. As with the other Olympiads, students completed both theoretical and practical examinations covering physical, organic, and inorganic chemistry. During the practical portion of the competition, they were also required to demonstrate their knowledge through laboratory experiments.
In a message to the students, chemistry team academic director Zeev Gross wrote, "We represented the country with great honor and received immense appreciation thanks to your achievements: 2 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and a global ranking of 8th place in the world. So thank you, and well done to all of you."
"In just over a week, Israel's teams have won 13 Olympic medals across three different scientific fields," Education Minister Yoav Kisch said.
"This is a clear expression of the depth of excellence that has been built here over the years and the ongoing investment in nurturing science education in Israel…We will continue to invest in nurturing the next generation of science and innovation leaders in Israel."
The Maimonides Fund's Future Scientists Center invests in these competitions to ensure their success, working in partnership with the Ministry of Education and various academic institutions.
"The accomplishments of the team members reflect dedication, perseverance, and a genuine love for science," said Yarom Ariav, chairman of the Center, adding that extraordinary and talented students "repeatedly represent the State of Israel with great honor on the international stage," and that their achievements are "a source of personal and national pride."