Taariq bags gold, makes history in SA Olympiad
FAIRBAIRN College pupil Taariq Mowzer has made history – becoming the third pupil in 34 years to earn a coding gold medal twice in the annual South African Programming Olympiad (Sapo).
The 17-year-old Grade 11 pupil competed against nine other finalists from three provinces to claim the prestigious Standard Bank trophy, first awarded in 2005. The announcement was made at the awards dinner during the school holidays.
Western Cape schools dominated at the awards as Tian Cilliers from Stellenbosch High and Emile Tredoux from Parklands College each won a silver medal. Three bronze medals went to Liam Foxcroft from Bishops, Ralph McDougall from Curro Durbanville and Andi Qu from St John’s College, Johannesburg.
Mowzer said: “I’m happy that I won again, and I feel that because I’m among the few who have won twice in a row, I have to work extra hard to do well in the international programming Olympiad.
“Sapo was at Standard Bank Global Leadership Centre. It’s the first time Sapo has been there and it was quite a different experience. All the contestants were together, so we could socialise, play games and make friends. The contest felt more difficult than the previous year. Both days had a question that nobody scored more than 50/100 on.
“I do think the paper was wellset, with questions ranging in various difficulties,” said Mowzer.
To celebrate 15 years of Standard Bank’s support for the Olympiad, the finals moved from Cape Town to the Bank’s Global Leadership Centre in Johannesburg for the 10-hour weekend coding contest.
Standard Bank Programming Olympiad manager Michael Cameron said: “Olympiads help to identify and develop talent in schools so that youngsters who wouldn’t otherwise have chosen a career in IT are encouraged to do so.”
Head of CIB Technology at Standard Bank Nicole Borges said: “Technology will do great things for our communities, country and the world and you will be at the heart of it. Go out and not only advance us in the Fourth Industrial Revolution but help us Future-proof Africa.”