In 2024, Team Canada made history by winning two gold medals at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in Brazil. It was a proud moment, the first time we'd ever earned two golds in one year. Yet as exhilarating as it was to see those medals, what stayed with me most was not the gleam of gold. It was the journey behind the achievement: the late-night problem-solving sessions, the “aha!” moments when a concept finally clicked, and the camaraderie that formed among students who started as strangers and became a team. This experience reaffirmed my belief that science Olympiads are about far more than the podium. As someone who has coached national teams and served on international Olympiad committees, I’ve seen first-hand that the true rewards of Olympiads are the skills and character developed along the way.

In this post, I want to share why science Olympiads matter beyond medals and rankings. From my perspective as a physics educator and Olympiad mentor, the value of these competitions lies in the curiosity they ignite, the resilience they build, the problem-solving prowess they hone, and the collaborative learning and mentorship they foster. Over the years, I've guided students through physics and astronomy Olympiads at both national and international levels, as a physics teacher with a Master’s degree in Physics from McMaster University, as Vice President of the Canadian Association of Amateur Astronomers (the organization behind Canada’s astronomy Olympiad program), and as Team Leader for Canada at the IOAA. In every role, my focus has been on helping students grow as thinkers and explorers, not just as competitors. Here are the deeper lessons I’ve seen students learn through Olympiad experiences, lessons that last far longer than any trophy shine.

Sparking Curiosity and a Lifelong Love of Science

One of the greatest gifts an Olympiad can give a student is curiosity. In my classes and training sessions, I aim to spark that sense of wonder about physics and the universe. Organizing the National Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in Canada, for example, is as much about sparking students’ curiosity as it is about selecting a team. The competition format pushes students to ask questions and dig deeper. They’re not just memorizing formulas; they’re exploring the “why” behind phenomena in the cosmos and in the lab. I’ve watched students light up with excitement when they grasp a particularly beautiful concept in astrophysics, that moment of “Wow, I get it now!” is what I strive for as an educator.

Nurturing curiosity means creating an environment where learning is its own reward. I often remind my students that Olympiads are an exploration first and a contest second. When a student discovers a new passion through the process, that is a victory in itself. One former student once told me that our work together “inspired him to pursue his dreams with confidence and curiosity”, and that the Olympiad journey “sparked his passion for physics and astronomy in a way school never had.” That kind of feedback means far more to me than any ranking in a results table. It means we’ve lit a fire that will keep burning throughout their education and career. Olympiads, at their best, fan the flames of curiosity and a lifelong love of science, and that is a priceless outcome.

Building Resilience Through Challenges

Every Olympiad problem is a challenge by design. The questions go well beyond the standard classroom curriculum, they are meant to be interesting and challenging to stretch the mind. Naturally, not every student will solve every problem or win a medal. But in grappling with these tough questions, students build resilience. They learn to persist through difficulty, to rebound from failure, and to approach obstacles with a growth mindset. In my coaching, I emphasize that stumbling on a hard problem is not only okay, it’s expected. What matters is what you do next: Do you give up, or do you take a step back, learn from mistakes, and try again? Olympiads cultivate that try again attitude by putting students in situations where persistence is the only path forward.

I have seen students go from scoring poorly in a practice round to dramatically improving by the next round, simply because they didn’t quit. The resilience they develop pays off in many areas beyond competitions. Whether it's tackling a tough university course later on or handling setbacks in life, the perseverance learned in Olympiads becomes an ingrained habit. I am often prouder of the dedication and passion every team member displays than of the medal count itself. For instance, even in years when some of our team members don’t end up on the podium, they carry themselves with pride in what they’ve learned and how far they’ve come. That grit and resilience, the courage to face challenges head-on – is a far more important long-term prize. Science Olympiads, by their very nature, teach students that failure is not final; it’s simply a step toward improvement.

Mastering Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking

At the heart of every science Olympiad is problem-solving. These contests aren’t about rote knowledge; they demand creative, analytical thinking and the ability to apply concepts in novel ways. As a teacher, I’ve made it a cornerstone of my philosophy to blend in-depth knowledge with practical problem-solving techniques. In preparing students for exams like the Canadian Physics Olympiad (CAP exam) or the International Physics Olympiad, I focus on how to think, not just what to think. This means working through complex problems step by step, spotting patterns, and learning how to break down big challenges into manageable parts. My teaching approach emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills at every turn. The result is that students not only perform well in competitions, but also gain mental tools that serve them in all areas of study.

I often design practice sessions to mirror the thought process required in Olympiad problems. For example, we might tackle an advanced astrophysics puzzle where students have to connect concepts from physics and astronomy in an interdisciplinary way. By doing so, they learn to think across domains and apply fundamental principles creatively. Over time, I’ve witnessed how this training sharpens their minds. Students become more confident in approaching unfamiliar problems, whether in an Olympiad or in their schoolwork. They learn to ask: What principles can I use here? How can I reason my way through this? When they do reach the actual competition, they carry with them a mastery of problem-solving strategies. As one of my students noted, I strive to make even complex, abstract concepts accessible and exciting, because once a student truly understands how to think critically, there’s no problem too daunting. This ability to think deeply and independently is arguably the most valuable medal of all.

Mentorship and Collaborative Learning

Another often-overlooked aspect of Olympiads is the mentorship and collaboration that happen along the way. While the competitions themselves are individual (with the exception of some team events), preparing for them is very much a team effort. In my role as an instructor, I don’t just lecture; I mentor. I believe in highly personalized teaching, understanding each student’s background and what they need to improve. By knowing my students well, I can tailor my guidance to challenge them appropriately and build their confidence. Our training sessions are interactive and often collaborative. I encourage students to work together on practice problems, discuss different solution approaches, and learn from each other’s insights. This collaborative problem-solving not only deepens their understanding, but also shows them that science is often a team endeavor.

The mentorship aspect is something I cherish deeply. I’ve been fortunate to mentor some incredibly talented young people in physics and astronomy. Under my direction at the Physics Olympiads Academy, students train for various competition, from the American F=ma and USAPhO exams to the International Astronomy Olympiad – in small group settings that foster camaraderie. Over weeks and months of preparation, I see these students form study groups, support each other through setbacks, and celebrate each other’s breakthroughs. They learn that competing doesn't mean against each other, but with each other. When we finally travel to an international Olympiad, that sense of team spirit is on full display. Senior students often mentor the newer ones, sharing tips and reassuring them. As a coach and team leader, I also connect with fellow mentors from around the world, exchanging ideas and learning about different approaches to science education. Since 2021, I have had the honor of serving as a board member of the international Olympiads committee, where I actively promote global collaboration and knowledge exchange in astronomy and physics. This global community of educators and learners is like a big family, all working toward the same goal: to inspire the next generation of scientists. In the end, the relationships built and the lessons learned through mentorship and collaboration are what truly endure.

Beyond the Podium: The True Legacy of Olympiads

Ultimately, the impact of science Olympiads cannot be measured by medals alone. Yes, medals and rankings can open doors and are worth celebrating, but the true legacy of these competitions is the growth that happens in each participant. Olympiads instill qualities and values that shape students into better learners and problem-solvers. To summarize, here’s what I believe students really gain from the Olympiad experience:

• Curiosity and Passion: A deeper fascination with science and a drive to explore further, as students discover new areas of interest and develop a lifelong love of learning.

• Resilience and Perseverance: The grit to face intellectual challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep going, an attitude that helps students overcome difficulties in any field.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Advanced analytical thinking and creativity in tackling problems, fostered by training that emphasizes understanding and applying concepts rather than rote memorization.

• Collaboration and Community: The friendships and mentorships formed, the teamwork in study groups, and the sense of belonging to a global community of science enthusiasts working and learning together.

For me, these are the outcomes that matter most. They are the reasons I remain so passionate about teaching and mentoring Olympiad students year after year. I have the same passion for teaching as I do for physics itself, and that’s because I see how transformative these experiences can be. When a student walks away from an Olympiad not just with an award but with new confidence, insight, and excitement, I know we have truly succeeded. That is why Olympiads matter. Beyond the medals and rankings, they light a spark that can launch a lifetime of discovery, and in my eyes, there’s no prize more important than that.

Armin Hodaei

June 18, 2025