Cuban Student Diego García Rodríguez Wins Bronze at Ibero-American Math Olympiad in Buenos Aires, His Second International Medal of 2026

September 28, 2026

Diego García Rodríguez, a Cuban high school student from the province of Sancti Spíritus, took home a bronze medal from the 41st Ibero-American Mathematical Olympiad (OIM), held September 6-13, 2026, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The result is his second international medal this year and the third of his competitive career, according to Escambray, Juventud Rebelde and Cuba's Ministry of Education (MINED).

A student at the Eusebio Olivera Rodríguez Vocational Pre-University Institute of Exact Sciences (IPVCE) in Sancti Spíritus, García Rodríguez earned bronze in July at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Shanghai, China. He was the first student from his province ever to compete at the IMO and became its first international medalist in mathematics. In 2025 he had also won gold at the Central American Mathematical Olympiad. "Diego is a great source of pride for us, a very special and dedicated young man with a bright future ahead," Daniel Alejandro Espinosa Aguiar, coordinator of the Provincial Center for Talent Development in Sancti Spíritus, told Escambray. The teenager credited his family's support and the work of his coaches, Carlos Sebrango and Catalina Rodríguez Felipe.

Every member of Cuba's four-student team reached the podium: Marcel Gamez Salvó of Havana won gold, Erick Díaz Pérez, also from Havana, took silver, and Heidy Rodríguez Fuentes of Camagüey and García Rodríguez each earned bronze. With 96 team points, Cuba placed sixth among 21 countries and received the Puerto Rico Cup, awarded to the country showing the greatest team improvement over previous editions. Brazil topped the country standings in a field of more than 80 contestants, ahead of Mexico and Spain.

The haul marks a clear step up from Cuba's showing at the 2023 edition in Brazil, where the island's delegation won two bronze medals, according to MINED.