من راية المؤسس إلى منصات العالم.. الموهوبون يكتبون قصة الطموح

The international achievements of the students of the Kingdom are an extension of a national journey that has made building human capacities a priority.

Every international medal begins with an early discovery opportunity and then extends over years of training and qualification.

The achievement that appears on the podium is backed by a complete national system.

On Saudi National Day, the phrase "in the footsteps of the founder" transcends the limits of a slogan to encapsulate the journey of a nation that began with the unification of the land and continues today with the building of the human being and empowering them to compete in various fields around the world. The talented students of Saudi Arabia present a vivid picture of this journey; from the classroom and training camps to international podiums, they carry their names and dreams and raise the flag of a nation that provided them with opportunities for discovery and qualification, surrounding them with a comprehensive system of educational, scientific, and national entities.

Investment in People

The Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), Abdulaziz Al-Khudairis, told "Okaz": The National Day represents an occasion to recall the journey of unifying this nation under the leadership of the founder King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and what the Kingdom has built since then in terms of ambition, work, and investment in people. He added that the international achievements that the students of the Kingdom are achieving today are an extension of a national journey that has made building human capacities a priority, and they are the fruit of the support that gifted individuals receive from the leadership and the integration between "Mawhiba," the Ministry of Education, schools, universities, national partners, and the students' families. These young individuals do not represent themselves when participating globally; rather, they carry the ambition of a nation and present an honorable image of the capabilities of its sons and daughters.

Opportunities for Early Discoveries

Al-Khudairis pointed out that every international medal begins with an early discovery opportunity and then extends over years of training, qualification, and joint work, emphasizing that investing in talent enriches the nation with competencies capable of contributing to its scientific and economic future and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Giving Back a Part of the Nation's Support

Among the examples is student Youssef Ayman Bakhit, who won the silver medal at the International Mathematics Olympiad 2026 in China, who sees representing the Kingdom globally as a responsibility that precedes the moment of winning. Bakhit told "Okaz": When I participate under the name of the Kingdom, I feel that I represent every entity, teacher, trainer, and family that contributed to my journey. The medal encapsulates long hours of training, but it carries a greater meaning for me; it is an opportunity to give back a part of the support from a nation that believed in our abilities and provided us with the tools we need to compete.

Passion and a Clear Path

In the field of chemistry, student Ali Ahmed Bawazir won the silver medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad 2026 in Uzbekistan, after a journey of specialized scientific training. Bawazir said, "My interest in chemistry began with personal passion and then transformed, with support and training, into a clear path through which I can represent my country. What we found from 'Mawhiba,' the Ministry of Education, our schools, and our trainers made ambition achievable and gave us the confidence that the Saudi student is capable of reaching the highest scientific levels."

As for student Youssef Farid Al-Khalawi, who won the silver medal at the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad 2026 in Kazakhstan, he represents a Saudi generation that confidently and ambitiously heads towards the sciences of the future. Al-Khalawi told "Okaz": The national programs provided me with an environment to learn, develop, and test my abilities against competitors from various countries around the world. The presence of entities that believe in students and provide them with specialized training and experiences makes us more prepared to create solutions that serve our nation, not just to participate in competitions.

The experiences of the students converge on one truth... the achievement that appears on the podium is backed by a complete national system that starts from the family and school and extends to teachers, trainers, institutions, and partner entities that discover talent, refine it, and open the doors of the world before it. Between the flag raised by the founder to unify the nation and the flag raised by its children today in international scientific forums, the journey continues... a generation that knows its roots, invests in the opportunities of its present, and moves forward with its knowledge and ambition in the footsteps of the founder.

Creating Solutions to Serve the Nation