Ukrainian Student Contribution to Irish Olympiad Success

My name is Vitalii Halushko, 5th year student, and I came to Ireland with my family in early March 2022, shortly after the war in Ukraine began. We lived in Kharkiv, just 25 kilometers from the Russian border.

When I was 10 years old, my teacher told me about another group of his students who went to IMO, and I had no doubt that in 5-6 years, I would also bring a medal from there. But the outbreak of war turned my life upside down.

I didn’t abandon my goal, but all my energy shifted toward surviving in a completely new environment. Thankfully, our Ukrainian teachers quickly organized online lessons, which allowed me to continue studying mathematics in depth. I was also warmly welcomed by St. Vincent’s Castleknock College. Principle Mr. Kinder, Year head Mr. Mulvany, and the entire teaching staff encouraged my academic interests and supported me in balancing school life with advanced math studies and Olympiads and competitions. They were always understanding when I missed classes for competitions and provided the flexibility I needed to keep learning. 

The first year in Ireland was very challenging. I experienced severe stress, frequent headaches, and dizziness, which forced me to miss nearly two months of school — both Irish and Ukrainian. My preparation for Olympiads had to pause for about half a year. Still, my goal of returning to competitive mathematics and reaching the IMO remained just as strong.

A year later, my health improved. I began looking into how the Olympiad system works in Ireland and was eager to meet peers with similar interests. In Ukraine, the Olympiad path includes several stages — school, district, regional, and national levels — with multiple rounds and many additional competitions. I tried to stay involved in the Ukrainian Olympiad system, but many stages required physical presence and didn’t allow online participation. Because of housing restrictions under Temporary Protection in Ireland, we were not allowed to travel freely, and I didn’t want to be separated from my family. This meant I missed out on opportunities like a two-week training camp in Austria.

In Dublin, we discovered the Mathematical Enrichment Program at University College Dublin (UCD). There, we met supportive teachers and learned about IrMO — Ireland’s national math Olympiad, which is held once a year. I participated in IrMO 2023 and placed second in Ireland.

Things started moving from there. I was invited to two spring camps in 2024, which turned out to be part of the Irish IMO selection process — and I was selected!

This was a turning point for me. Until then, I had always imagined representing only Ukraine. But when I was invited to represent Ireland, I accepted with gratitude. Ireland gave me the chance to pursue my dream.

Unfortunately, due to a visa delay, I was unable to travel with the Irish team to IMO 2024 in the UK. Yet that year marked a major shift for me: I now felt that the International Mathematical Olympiad was within reach. I also met many like-minded peers — friendships that have become very important to me.

In 2025, I once again placed second in IrMO and was selected for IMO 2025. This year, I finally made the trip — and I brought home a bronze medal!

I’m proud to have competed alongside brilliant teammates who became my friends. I’m deeply thankful to mentors like Anca Mustata, Andrew Smith, Bernd Kreussler, Steve Buckley, and other incredible teachers who dedicate their time to developing the Olympiad movement in Ireland and supporting young talent.

Finding a community of passionate mathematicians in a new country has been incredibly meaningful. I’m proud of our team’s achievement — 42nd place out of 110 countries — and honored to have contributed to this success.

I’m especially grateful to Ireland for the safety, kindness, and opportunity it has given me — and for allowing me to participate in the world’s most prestigious mathematical competition.

My next goal is to enter a top university to study aerospace engineering. I dream of contributing to future innovations and helping advance this vital field.