Kylie Leung to represent South Africa at international maths competition
19 June 2025Kylie Leung, a Year 7 learner at Courtney House International School in Pretoria, has been selected to represent South Africa at the Vietnam International Mathematics Competition (VIMC) this August. Hosted in Danang City, the event brings together top-performing young mathematicians from around the world.
A Curro learner with global ambition
Kylie is one of only eight learners selected nationally after scoring 90% in Round 1 of the South African Mathematics Challenge and progressing through Round 2 of the International Mathematics Assessment for Schools. Her selection followed a demanding two-month process.
‘I love the competitiveness, meeting new people, and it’s fun,’ said Kylie, when asked what draws her to mathematics competitions.
She joined Courtney House at the age of two and has thrived in an environment that encourages both academic excellence and personal growth.
Top achievements across disciplines
Kylie’s list of accolades is remarkable:
- Top 1% nationally in the 2024 South African National Mathematics Olympiad (Gold Status)
- Second place nationally in the Grade 6 category
- Perfect score (50 scaled points) in the mathematics component of the International Cambridge Primary Checkpoints
- First place in the Year 11 category at the Gauteng North Gymnastics Association Level 5 Competition
- Ambassador at Japan Kids Fashion Week in 2024
She also manages a full schedule of activities—three to four hours of gymnastics training daily, plus regular maths preparation, swimming, modelling, and public speaking.
Making a difference
Kylie is known not just for academic talent but for social awareness. In June 2023, she and two friends organised a School Shoe Drive to deliver new shoes to learners at Mookgophong Primary School in Limpopo.
She also launched a personal project called Amazing Medical Heroes – Inspiring the Next Generation, interviewing doctors and healthcare professionals to help motivate other children. Through these conversations, Kylie is discovering her own dream of becoming a doctor.
Her advice to peers? ‘Keep going, believe in yourself, and one day, you will achieve your dreams.’
Leading with support
Dimitra Bailanis, Executive Head of Courtney House, expressed the school’s pride: ‘With the Vietnam International Mathematics Competition just around the corner, Kylie is prepared to represent both her school and country with immense pride. I am immensely proud of our young Kylie and her achievements remind us of the remarkable potential young minds have when given the right opportunities to excel.’