Xiaoyuan Li (UIV Alston) recently became St John's first student to win the Tour de Maths tournament's Overall Individual title. Competing with partner Zhirui Li (UIV Hill), he placed first across seven rounds against the country's top mathematics students.
"This honour belongs not only to me but also to the entire team," Xiaoyuan said. "It wouldn't have been possible without the guidance and support of our teachers throughout the preparation process."
The Tour de Maths victory caps a strong year for Xiaoyuan in mathematics and programming. At the South African Maths Team Competition held at WITS, his team placed fourth nationally. In programming, he qualified for Round 3 of the South African Programming Olympiad, ranking among the top 12 students nationally and earning a Certificate of Honourable Mention.
Last year, Xiaoyuan represented South Africa at the Junior International Mathematics Competition in India, winning a bronze medal. He also placed 5th nationally in the Junior Division of the South African Maths Olympiad and earned 2nd place in Gauteng at the Wits Maths Competition.
"This experience deepened my love for mathematics and gave me confidence in what I have learned," he said of the international competition. "At the same time, it showed me areas where I can improve."
In 2023, Xiaoyuan placed 9th overall at the Wits Maths Competition and finished 7th in the South African Mathematics Olympiad. He also reached the final round of the South African Programming Olympiad.
Xiaoyuan credits his teachers for his growth, from his Housemaster to the IT and mathematics staff. For students pursuing mathematics or programming, his advice is straightforward: "Don't tell yourself you can't until you've tried everything you can."
