On March 2, 2025, Vietnam’s Pham Hoang Quan from Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted celebrated a remarkable victory by winning the gold medal at the Road to Olympia competition. This event is known for showcasing the intellectual abilities of gifted students through rigorous quizzes and tests.
The competition featured four talented finalists: Pham Hoang Quan, Nguyen Ngoc Diep from Kien An High School, Phan Anh Tu from Ba Vi High School, and Bui Phuong Anh from Binh Lu High School. Each competitor faced challenging questions, testing their knowledge and quick-thinking skills.
During the initial warm-up round, Quan started strong, scoring 50 points by correctly answering six questions. His initial performance left him at the top, followed by Phan Anh Tu with 20 points, Bui Phuong Anh with 30 points, and Ngoc Diep trailing with 10 points. Despite his early lead, Quan faced challenges as he got buzzed on the first couple of general questions without scoring additional points.
After the warm-up round, scores were reshuffled: An Tu jumped to 60 points, Hoang Quan maintained 50 points, Phuong Anh amassed 35 points, and Ngoc Diep increased their tally to 30 points. The obstacle course questions introduced keywords and required competitors to answer quickly, keeping the atmosphere highly competitive.
Throughout the obstacle course, participants grappled with varied themes, including challenging prompts related to community health tasks defined by local regulations. When the question pertaining to transportation services was asked, all four competitors eagerly buzzed in for their chance to answer. Quan and Tu both responded with “bus,” which turned out to be correct, gifting them additional points and enhancing their standings.
Following several rounds of testing knowledge, the high-paced environment of the competition led to dramatic score fluctuations. Entering the rapid-fire segment, Quan secured his position as the frontrunner, clocking 220 points, with significant contributions from well-timed answers. Meanwhile, Ngoc Diep was able to respond quickly to earn 140 points, An Tu reached 120 points, and Phuong Anh gathered 85 points.
With pressure mounting, the final questions posed to the contestants carried greater stakes, exemplified by the package format of 20-20-20 points available for scoring. Hoang Quan maintained his form, successfully completing the final questions to consolidate his leadership. Notably, this success came as An Tu struggled to provide accurate responses to the final queries, creating distinguishing gaps between the scores.
After the intense competition concluded, Pham Hoang Quan emerged victorious, marking his success with the highest score of 215 points—securing him another chance to compete at the monthly round. Following closely was Nguyen Ngoc Diep with 160 points, Phan Anh Tu finished at 150 points, and Bui Phuong Anh rounded out the competition with 55 points.
This triumph positions Hoang Quan among the top contestants of the month, highlighting not only his personal abilities but also the rigorous academic environment cultivated at his school. The Road to Olympia continues to be more than just a competition; it celebrates the spirit of learning and achievement among Vietnam’s brightest students.