Gold and Silver for Israel: Nation's chemistry team dominates international olympiad

Four students represented Israel in partnership with the Education Ministry and Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, primarily from central Israel communities.

Israel’s National Chemistry Team has made the nation proud after bringing home four Olympic medals at the United Arab Emirates-based International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) earlier this month. In total, Israeli high school students brought home two gold and two silver medals, competing against 89 other countries in the process.

At the IChO in 2025, 354 competitors from 90 different countries participated in the olympiad.

Four students represented Israel in partnership with the Education Ministry and Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, primarily from central Israel communities.

Itamar Ben Shmuel, a Ramat Gan resident and an 11th-grade student at the Kfar HaYarok School, and Yonatan Gontmakher, who lives in Rishon LeZion and is a 12th-grade student at the Krieger Real Gymnasium, both won Gold medals.

Yehonadav Marienberg, a resident of Mazkeret Batya and a 10th-grade student at the Har Etzion Yeshiva High School for Youth in Alon Shvut, and Omer Zachary Ben-Ami, a 12th-grade student at Ironi Dalit High School in Tel Aviv, both won silver medals.

Both the Education Ministry and the Future Scientists Center assisted the competitors and members of Israel’s national science teams in event preparation.

The chemistry team trained at Technion’s chemistry department, led by Academic Director Prof. Zeev Gross and Head Coach Dr. Reut Shapira. Gross accompanied the delegation to the UAE alongside two others, Dr. Eyal Barnea, and Dr. Zack Patrick Sarcel.

'A journey that took years'

“Preparing for the International Olympiad taught me just as much about myself as it did about atoms and molecules. It’s a journey that took years, and in the end, it was more than worth it," Gold Medalist Yonathan Gontmakher told the Jerusalem Post.

"Representing my country on the international stage is truly a life-changing experience, offering incredible perspective on both Israel and the world. I don’t think there’s a better feeling than raising the Israeli flag on stage with a gold medal around my neck.”

Silver medalist Omer Zachary Ben-Ami echoed these sentiments."It's almost impossible to describe the pride you feel holding the Israeli flag after receiving such an incredible award. Everyone worked so hard all year to make this happen—even during times when we weren’t sure we’d even be allowed to compete. And by 'we' I mean not just us, the students, but also our amazing trainers and team leaders from the Technion," he told the Post. "Less than 48 hours after the ceasefire with Iran, we were already back in the lab practicing!

Education Minister Yoav Kisch said that their win is an example of how Israel is building an education system that moves forward, “not waiting for success, but growing it. With consistency, humility, and deep faith in our children's abilities.”

"Behind every medal stands an Israeli student with a spark in their eyes, curiosity in their heart, and a willingness to work hard – children like Itamar, Jonathan, Omer, and Yehonadav, who dared to dream big and saw it through to the end. Each one of them represents a story of persistence, talent, and educational support that believes in the student every step of the way,” Kisch said.

Chair of the Maimonides Fund’s Future Scientists Center, Yarom Ariav, said that the country is blessed by the team’s achievements, calling the participants the future of Israeli science, research, and innovation. Technion President Professor Uri Sivan said he hopes to see the students as the university’s students in the future.

Academic Director of the Team, Prof. Zeev Gross, added remarks full of pride. "I was deeply moved to see our talented team members standing on the podium with the Israeli flag at an international event. I’ll also add that in times like these, when the global scientific-technological landscape is undergoing major shifts, it’s more important than ever to inspire our young generation to excel in one of the most fundamental sciences – chemistry."