Sixth-grader Mai Ngoc Duy of Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, faced an unexpected setback just three days before the AIMO 2026 International Mathematical Olympiad final when he was hospitalised after falling ill. Determined not to miss his first international final, Duy requested permission to compete after doctors confirmed he was fit to travel. His family took him to Hanoi, where he completed the challenging exam before returning to hospital. He later learned he had won a silver medal.