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According to the Canoas City Hall, 12-year-old boy Callebe Josué Cantú, a student at EMEF Prefeito Edgar Fontoura, won gold in the 20th Obmep, received an award in Rio de Janeiro, and secured the school’s first national medal in a competition with more than 18.3 million students in Brazil in 2026 officially.
The 12-year-old boy Callebe Josué Cantú, a student in the municipal network of Canoas, in Rio Grande do Sul, won a gold medal in the 20th edition of the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad of Public Schools, the Obmep.
The award ceremony took place on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together students from various regions of the country. According to the Municipal City Hall of Canoas, the result marked the first national gold medal in the history of EMEF Prefeito Edgar Fontoura in the competition.
Gold in Obmep marked the school’s history
The achievement of Callebe placed EMEF Prefeito Edgar Fontoura on a new level within the Obmep. The school had already participated in the competition but had not yet registered a national gold medal.
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The result gained significance because the olympiad is one of the largest Brazilian initiatives to encourage the study of mathematics. In a competition with millions of students, the medal showed that the performance of a municipal network student can achieve national recognition.
Competition gathered more than 18 million students
The Obmep annually gathers more than 18.3 million students, from the 6th grade of elementary school to the 3rd year of high school, reaching 99.9% of Brazilian municipalities, according to the Canoas City Hall.
In the 20th edition, 682 students were awarded gold medals, 2,046 with silver medals, and 5,888 with bronze medals. Additionally, another 51,000 participants received honorable mentions, expanding the competition’s reach in the country.
Callebe received medal in Rio de Janeiro
The 12-year-old boy received the award in Rio de Janeiro, during a ceremony that brought together the best students in the country at the Obmep. The City Hall reported that the event was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Minister of Education, Leonardo Barchini.
For Canoas, Callebe’s medal was presented as recognition for the student, the teachers, the family, and the municipal network. The achievement came from a local public school and reached a national mathematics ceremony.
Municipal network had other highlights in the competition
Besides Callebe Josué Cantú’s gold medal, EMEF Prefeito Edgar Fontoura had other students recognized in Obmep. Gustavo Bonazza Pedroso won a silver medal, Mariana Henrique Muniz received a bronze medal, and Nikolly do Canto Fernandes obtained an honorable mention.
These results show that the school’s performance was not limited to a single award. The participation of different students among the highlights reinforces the role of school preparation and encouragement of mathematics within the municipal network.
Rio Grande do Sul was among the states with the most golds
According to data released by the Canoas City Hall, Rio Grande do Sul was the third state with the highest number of gold medals in the edition, with 64 awards.
The state was only behind São Paulo, which totaled 180 gold medals, and Minas Gerais, with 74. In this scenario, the result of the 12-year-old boy also made the list of achievements that helped Rio Grande do Sul stand out nationally.
Obmep seeks to identify talents in mathematics
Organized since 2005 by the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics, Impa, Obmep aims to identify talents, encourage the study of mathematics and expand educational opportunities for students across the country.
The competition can also open doors for scientific training. Many awardees are invited to the Junior Scientific Initiation Program, PIC, which offers advanced mathematics classes and a scientific initiation scholarship of R$ 300 for public school students, granted by CNPq.
Public education emerges as a path of discovery
Callebe’s case shows how public education can reveal high-performing students when there is encouragement, support, and opportunities to participate in scientific olympiads.
The gold medal does not represent just an individual result. It also highlights the role of the school, teachers, and the municipal network in bringing children and adolescents closer to academic challenges that can change trajectories.
What Callebe’s Medal Leaves for Canoas
The achievement of the 12-year-old boy placed EMEF Prefeito Edgar Fontoura in the history of Obmep and reinforced the presence of Canoas’ municipal network in a large-scale national competition.
The result also provokes reflection: how many talents in mathematics, science, and technology can still emerge in public schools if there is encouragement, preparation, and access to opportunities like Obmep? Do you think school olympiads should receive more support in Brazil? Leave your opinion in the comments.
