Two Changsha students win IOI gold medals
By Qing Yongfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-29 08:43

People from Changsha have taken pride in local young students' computer science talent.

Two Changsha senior high school students had dazzling success in Poland during the 17th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Warsaw in August.

Gold medals were won by Hu Weidong, from the Changjun High School, and Long Fan, from the Yali High School, who represented China and excelled during the high-level computer science competitions for young students from across the world.

Hu, born in a poor farmer in Beishan Town in Changsha, has never taken any training courses, but has studied by himself.

According to Hu's schoolmates, he usually borrows books from other students or teachers as his family can not afford them.

Hu owes his success to hard work, diligence and a deep interest in informatics.

When he was in grade one at senior high school, his computer programming level exceeded master degree level.

Last year, Hu was a silver medal winner at the IOI, but this year he did even better, achieving his dream of being a gold medal winner.

"My English level is very important," Hu said. "Last year I failed to win gold because my English was not so good. When I came back to school I studied hard and racked my brains to study English."

This year, Hu could communicate fluently with foreign competitors and was chosen to be captain of the China team.

Following his top performance, one of the nation's top universities, Tsinghua University, has offered him a place without having to take an entrance examination.

"I have developed a fascination with computing since I was very young," said Long, another winner.

When he was five years old, Long's father gave him a computer designed for children as a gift.

Since then, he has had a deep interest in programming.

Long's father also gave him some books on basic programming and from six the youngster has been writing his own programmes.

When Long was in grade three at primary school he almost lost confidence in programming because he failed to be selected to enter the provincial team for the competition.

"My parents' encouragement pushed me to success, otherwise I would have dropped my studies," he said.

Long also said he had developed brotherly friendship with Hu. "We often play computer games together."

"I was tense when teacher interviewed me for the first time in our team. It was Hu, my captain, who encouraged me and shared his valuable experience with me."

Long was selected to represent China and to participate in next year's competition. And Long wants to win another gold medal

(China Daily 09/29/2005 page10)

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