This week, Rwanda celebrated Denys Prince Tuyisenge and his secondary school peers after they won a gold medal, one silver, three bronze medals, at the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 20.

The Senior Three student at Hope Haven Secondary School in Kigali expressed his appreciation after he and his five peers were hosted by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro, describing the meeting as "an incredible honour” that "encourages me to strive for more and to keep pushing my limits.”

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"We never saw this coming,” Tuyisenge&039;s father told The New Times.

Tuyisenge was awarded the gold medal, which was Rwanda's biggest win in the continental competition.

The 15-year-old said that he has always had a passion for mathematics, but his journey to the gold medal at PAMO2024 was not without challenges. The competition had attracted secondary school students from 27 African countries, with Rwanda participating for the fourth time.

The Rwandan team, trained by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), was selected from an initial 40,000 students across the country.

"My preparation began long before the competition, seeing other kids go abroad for competitions and scholarships,” Tuyisenge, who aspires to be a chemical engineer, told The New Times.

"In my early secondary school years, I was selected to attend a math camp. This camp provided me with the foundational skills and knowledge that propelled me to excel in the three rounds of the competition,” he said.

In the camp, which he described as "very essential,” the participants were introduced to various subjects, from number theory, and combinatorics, to geometry.

ALSO READ: Rwandan students win gold medal at African math competition

Facing stiff competition, Tuyisenge remained focused and continued to hone his skills, utilizing every resource available to him, including Chromebooks and tablets available at his school.

He said the competition in South Africa was challenging, but he remained steadfast, knowing he had the support of his family and teachers.

"The competition was actually a little bit challenging, since I had prepared well in advance, but one of the biggest challenges I faced was walking in front of a large audience when they announced me as the gold medalist,” said Tuyisenge.

"I am not really used to that kind of attention. When they called my name, I was in disbelief. I was surprised because I did not think I would actually win,” Tuyisenge recounted, describing the moment as surreal.

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Winning the gold medal has not only elevated his academic profile but has also fuelled his ambition to achieve even greater heights in the future. On Thursday, President Kagame challenged Tuyisenge and his peers to "do even more” and not stop at medals.

He told them they had the capacity to find solutions not only to Rwandan problems but to continental and global issues, if they persisted in their math and scientific endeavours.

Rwandan participants in precious PAMO editions have gone to elite schools such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Tuyisenge told The New Times he has his sights set on the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) due in July 2025.

A teacher’s push

Tuyisenge said the biggest influence on his interest in mathematics was his teacher, who always pushed him to work hard and aim for excellence.

"My teacher used to tell us to work hard and study hard so that we can be top performers, both in national exams and beyond. This motivation, coupled with my own determination, has led me to pursue one of the most challenging subjects and emerge victorious,” he said.

His advice to other students who wish to follow in his footsteps or to do even more is to work hard, be patient, and practice more.

"Being courageous and doing what they want to do with dedication, they can achieve all their goals,” he observed.

He is talented, but winning a gold medal...?

As the third child in a family of five, his achievement has not only made his family proud but has also set the bar higher for his younger siblings.

Tuyisenge&039;s father, Denis Nzabonariba, was overwhelmed when he got the news of his son's gold medal win at the continental competition.

"We never saw this coming. He's always been quiet and focused on his schoolwork,” Nzabonariba said in a telephone interview from his home in Muhanga District.

"We knew he was talented and hardworking, but winning a gold medal on such a big stage...? That was beyond our wildest dreams.

"When they announced his name, we were just as surprised as he was," he said.

Nzabonariba said the family tries to give Tuyisenge all the support he needs, whether it's helping him stay focused on his studies, providing notebooks, a laptop, internet, or just being there for encouragement.

"We are incredibly proud and thankful. He’s truly setting a great example for his younger siblings.”

Tuyisenge’s story serves as an inspiration to students across Rwanda, and a reminder that with hard work, determination, and the right support, anything is possible.