"Don't just focus on the results; enjoy coding" — Tudor, a 12-year-old IOI participant

The 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026), hosted by Uzbekistan for the first time in its history, is taking place in Tashkent from August 9 to 16. Bringing together the most talented young programmers from nearly 100 countries each year, this prestigious competition's youngest participant this year is 12-year-old Tudor, representing Luxembourg. Born in Romania and having moved to Luxembourg with his family at the age of seven, Tudor is now proudly representing his country on the international stage. During our conversation, he shared how he entered the world of programming, how he prepared for the Olympiad, and what advice he has for his peers. First of all, could you tell us a little bit about yourself? — I'm 12 years old. I was born in Romania, and my family moved to Luxembourg when I was seven. In my free time, I love writing code on my computer and playing games. I also play the drums and really enjoy eating pasta! You are the youngest participant in this year's Olympiad. How are you feeling right now? — It’s a huge honor for me. The strongest young programmers in the world are gathered here, and I’m proud to be competing alongside them. Representing Luxembourg also gives me a special sense of responsibility. Of course, because of my age, I know it won't be easy to compete against more experienced participants. Nevertheless, my main goal isn't just to win; it is to gain experience, learn new things, and enjoy the competition itself. How did your interest in programming begin? — It all started with the Scratch platform. I began creating games when I was about 7 or 8 years old. In 2023 and 2024, I participated in the Scratch Olympiad, taking second place both times. For the past four years, I have also been competing in the Math-Day mathematics competitions in Luxembourg—this year, I won a gold medal in the Junior category. Last year, I competed in the informatics olympiad for the first time; I made it to the semi-finals but didn't reach the finals. This year, I prepared much better and secured my ticket to the IOI. My parents' support has been a massive source of strength for me along this journey. How did you prepare for the IOI? — My training routine changes depending on the preparation period. Right before a competition, I solve problems almost every day, but during normal times, I practice for 3 to 4 hours on weekends. I regularly attend online classes at the Nerdvana 2.0 programming club in Romania—that is where my foundational knowledge was built. Besides that, we also train with the coaches of the Luxembourg national team. They are incredibly helpful, especially in filling any gaps in our knowledge before the IOI. What advice would you give to your peers who are just starting out in competitive programming? — First of all, build things you love and enjoy the process of coding. I personally got into this field by creating games. If your goal is to participate in international Olympiads, you need to work consistently on Olympiad-level problems. And one more important piece of advice: don't just focus on the results. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the most important thing is to keep coding and never stop learning. For reference, the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics is taking place from August 9 to 16 this year at the CAEx exhibition complex in Tashkent.