Israeli Chemistry Stars Sweep Medals at 2025 Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad
Historic achievement for the six members of the Israeli student delegation, who were trained at the Technion
In a stunning display of academic prowess, the Israeli delegation at the 59th Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad has achieved a historic achievement – all six team members returning home with medals. The competition, held in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, saw nearly 200 brilliant young minds from 40 countries battle through grueling chemistry challenges. Yet amid this fierce international competition, Israel’s young scientists shone exceptionally bright.
Silver medals were won by Jonathan Gontmakher from Rishon LeZion, a 12th-grade student at the Gimnasia Rialit, Itamar Ben Shmuel from Ramat Gan, an 11th-grade student at the Kfar Hayarok School, Amit Nevo from Atlit, a 12th-grade student at the Reut Arts School, and Yogev Cohen Ben Zaken from Tzoran, an 11th-grade student at the Kfar Hayarok School. Yoav Pripaz Cohen from Ramat Gan, an 11th-grade student at the Ohel Shem School, and Omer Zachary Ben-Ami from Tel Aviv, a 12th-grade student at the Ironi Dalet School, secured bronze medals.
“Six moments of pride, immense honor and uplifting spirit with the appearance of our country’s flag on an international stage,” said Prof. Zeev Gross from the Technion, who heads the program. “It was worth every moment of effort from everyone!”
The Mendeleev Olympiad has been held for 59 years, and Israel has participated in the event since 2016. The team was trained at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion, under the guidance of Prof. Zeev Gross and the team’s head coach, Dr. Reut Shapira. The training team also included Dr. Yury Andreev and Dr. Zack Patrick Sarcel, alongside laboratory manager Gabrielle Halevi and former Olympiad champions who train them all year as mentors.
The Olympiad project for high school students is a joint initiative of the Future Scientists Association (Maimonides) and the Ministry of Education, with the Technion selected as the academic institution responsible for the selection and training of students who form the backbone of the current delegation, which is carried out at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry in professional collaboration with the entire academic and administrative team.
