The Brazilian achieved something unprecedented in the International Physics and Chemistry Olympiad

Student Rafael Moreno Ribeiro, 17, won two bronze medals after participating in the International Chemistry and Physics Olympiad. Because of this, he became the first Brazilian to be awarded in both competitions simultaneously.

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The last time a Brazilian competed in both Olympics at the same time was in 2002. On that occasion, Rafael Tajra Fontelles came out with a bronze medal in the Chemistry Olympiad and was remembered by Musharraf in a physics dispute.

To achieve this extraordinary feat, Rafael Ribeiro had to change state and school, as well as go through state and national qualifiers in a process that lasted more than two years. International assessments were conducted on 13 July.

Rafael ended up winning a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), becoming the third best Brazilian in the competition. He also took another bronze at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), where he became the best among all Brazilian representatives.

The marathon to prepare for these competitions began some time ago, when Rafael was still in elementary school. He said that he was having great difficulty with mathematics and that he needed to devote himself a lot to this subject, while preparing to participate in the selection process for a military school in Salvador, where he was living with his family at the time.

“To be able to pass a military school, it was necessary to study a lot of mathematics and also to have a good foundation. I took the test during the fifth year to be able to enter the sixth year,” the student said. The following year, Rafael already entered the college.