---
title: "Ukrainian schoolchildren won four medals at the first world olympiad in AI and cybersecurity in Sydney"
description: "Four Ukrainian schoolchildren placed in the top three at the first International Olympiad in Cybersecurity and AI (ICOA 2026) in Sydney, winning four medals."
date: 2026-09-14T12:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-schoolchildren-medals-icoa-2026-sydney-ai-cybersecurity
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukrainian schoolchildren won four medals at the first world olympiad in AI and cybersecurity in Sydney

![Ukrainian school students, participants of the first world AI and cybersecurity olympiad in Sydney, posing in front of the W Sydney hotel](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/14/ukrainskie-shkolniki-medali-icoa-2026-sidney-ii-kiberbezopasnost/ukrainskie-shkolniki-medali-icoa-2026-sidney-ii-kiberbezopasnost-1.webp)

The Ukrainian schoolchildren's team represented the country at the first International Cyber Olympiad in AI (ICOA 2026), held in Sydney (Australia). The tournament featured 65 participants from 20 countries around the world, making it one of the most competitive international competitions in its field. Ukraine was represented by four schoolchildren from Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava region, and Odesa, who passed a multi-stage selection and training process at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

### Top three and four medals

Despite the high competition among 20 national teams, the Ukrainian schoolchildren delivered an outstanding result, placing in the top three teams of the tournament. As a result of the competition, the team won four medals, a significant achievement for the young Ukrainian olympiad movement in the field of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The ICOA 2026 competition was dedicated to solving cybersecurity tasks using AI models, as well as investigating vulnerabilities in artificial intelligence systems applied in robotic devices.

### Support from Ajax Systems and the Ajax Next program

The partner of the Ukrainian team was Ajax Systems, which funded the logistics, accommodation, and participation of the schoolchildren in the international competition. According to the company's press service, support for ICOA 2026 became Ajax Systems' first project in the field of cybersecurity and AI for schoolchildren. The initiative is implemented within the framework of the Ajax Next educational program, aimed at developing technical education in Ukraine. In 2026, the company expanded the program and supported the participation of 120 Ukrainian schoolchildren in seven olympiads and tournaments in mathematics, physics, robotics, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Most teams returned from the international competitions with medals. In addition, Ajax Systems funded two mathematics camps in which 180 schoolchildren took part.

### Comment from the founder of Ajax Systems

The founder and chairman of the supervisory board of Ajax Systems, Oleksandr Konotopskyi, emphasized the strategic importance of international competitions for the development of young specialists. 'Participation in international olympiads is very important. First, it provides motivation to study well and be the best in Ukraine. Second, competition is the engine of development. And only in international competition can one develop into a world-class specialist. And third, it is the development of the brand "Ukraine,"' he stated. Konotopskyi also noted that the company sees the development of the olympiad movement as an 'extremely important and priority project' and intends to continue showing the world the achievements of young Ukrainians. It was previously reported that Ajax Systems intends to help KPI enter the top 100 universities in the world.

### Contradictory data

No significant contradictions in dates, figures, or facts were found in the provided sources. The only source — RBC-Ukraine, citing the press service of Ajax Systems — provides consistent data: 65 participants from 20 countries, four medals, top three. Notably, the olympiad is designated as the 'first' in its series, making comparison with previous results impossible. All key figures (120 schoolchildren in seven olympiads, 180 participants in the mathematics camps) are provided exclusively in the partner's statement and were not independently verified at the time of publication.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Ukrainian schoolchildren conquered the world olympiad in AI and cybersecurity](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/topi-olimpiadi-ukrayinski-shkolyari-zdobuli-1789384358.html) - Подтверждено по источнику rbc.ua