Matt Kaplan flies SA flag at global physics competition
After representing South Africa in Colombia, Morningside-based learner Matt Kaplan is now setting his sights on a future in engineering.
Representing South Africa at the 56th International Physics Olympiad in Bucaramanga, Colombia, was an experience Redhill School learner Matt Kaplan said he never imagined would become reality.
The Grade 11 learner was one of only five South African learners selected to compete at the prestigious international competition, which brought together some of the world’s brightest young physicists.
Outside the classroom, Matt enjoys tennis and karate, but it is his passion for physics, mathematics and information technology that earned him a place on the national team.
Read more: Morningside learner looks forward to crunching numbers at Maths Olympiad in Mongolia
“It was an incredible honour for me. I never really expected to be there and never thought it was possible. Representing the country I love motivated me to do my best because I wanted to show the world that South Africans are capable of competing on the world stage.”
The olympiad consisted of demanding five-hour theoretical and practical examinations. While both tested participants’ abilities, Matt found the theoretical paper especially rewarding.
“I enjoyed the theory exam more because it allowed me to demonstrate my knowledge. It challenged me to think more conceptually, and I really enjoyed that.”
He described the practical examination as one of the toughest parts of the competition.
“You have to be meticulous because if something goes wrong, it can be difficult to recover. It taught me to slow down, think carefully and stay focused. The five-hour exam also required a lot of stamina.”
Beyond the competition, Matt said meeting learners from nearly 90 countries was one of the highlights of the experience.
“I expected people to be much more competitive, but everyone was incredibly welcoming and helpful. We learned from one another and made lifelong friends.”
He added that what surprised him most was how much they all had in common.
“We came from different countries and cultures, but everyone was kind, cooperative and willing to help.”
Looking ahead, Matt believes the olympiad has strengthened his passion for science and helped shape his plans.
“I’ve been deciding between medicine and engineering, but this experience has definitely influenced me to consider engineering even more.”
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