Guayaquil Dominates Espol's 2026 Ecuadorian Mathematics Olympiad

Students from Guayaquil have once again demonstrated their academic prowess, securing a dominant position in the 2026 Ecuadorian Mathematics Olympiad organized by Espol. The province's contingent claimed eight out of the ten medals awarded, including the top gold medals.

Isaac Ruales, a 17-year-old from Quito's Alliance Academy International, earned gold, sharing the top honor with Luis Fernando Zavala from Samborondón's IPAC. Ruales, who also won a bronze medal in the previous year's competition, emphasized the importance of continuous training over solely focusing on accolades. His performance underscores the dedication required to excel in such demanding academic challenges.

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We should not measure the growth of our knowledge by a medal.

The results reveal a striking imbalance in mathematical achievement between Ecuador's provinces. Guayas, which includes Guayaquil, accounted for 41.8% of the national participants but secured a commanding 80% of the medals. In contrast, Pichincha, with Quito as its capital, had 20.26% of participants but only garnered 20% of the medals.

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Kanguro is a competition where speed in solving mathematical problems is measured, while in the Ecuadorian Olympiad, the problems are more complex and not only the solution is evaluated, but the entire resolution process and reasoning.

Professor Christian Hernández of Espol differentiated the Olympiad from the Kanguro Matemático competition. While Kanguro focuses on speed and logic across multiple countries, the Espol Olympiad demands deeper academic knowledge, with tests exclusively designed by Espol faculty. Ruales confirmed this distinction, noting that the Espol competition emphasizes complex problem-solving and reasoning processes rather than just speed.

The Olympiad features two tracks: the Intercolegial competition, which is team-based, and the individual Ecuadorian Olympiad. The latter progresses to a third phase, evaluating algebra, number theory, combinatorics, and geometry. A subsequent individual test selects the four students who will represent Ecuador at the Ibero-American Mathematics Olympiad.

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I identify more with problems where speed is not a definitive factor.