At the conclusion of the competition, Giada Balaj and Diona Llangozi were both awarded an Honorable Mention – Medal of Honor in the final stage of TIMO 2026.
Winning two Medals of Honor for Albania is particularly significant, considering the large number of participants, the strong level of competition and the difficulty of the examination. This achievement demonstrates that our students competed with distinction alongside their peers from different countries.
For the StarBalkans team, the announcement of the results was one of the most emotional moments of the entire journey. After the preparation, travel, emotions and challenge of the examination, seeing both students recognised on the international stage was a source of great pride and joy.
These results represent more than just two awards. Behind them are the students’ hard work, the continuous support of their families, consistent preparation and the courage to compete in an international environment.
More Than a Mathematics Olympiad
The TIMO 2026 programme in Baku was not limited to the mathematics competition. It also included an opening ceremony, cultural visits, international activities and the final awards ceremony.
Participants had the opportunity to discover the history and culture of Azerbaijan, visit some of Baku’s most well-known landmarks and interact with peers from different countries. This transformed their participation into a complete academic, cultural and personal experience.
For Giada and Diona, the journey was an opportunity to develop greater independence, self-confidence and international experience. The memories, friendships and lessons gained in Baku will remain an important part of their academic journey.
Proud of Giada and Diona
StarBalkans expresses its pride and appreciation for Giada Balaj and Diona Llangozi, who represented Albania with distinction at the TIMO 2026 International Final.
We would like to thank the students for their dedication and commitment, their families for their continuous support, and everyone who contributed to making this journey possible.
Achieving two Medals of Honor is another testament to the potential of Albanian students and to the importance of creating opportunities for them to challenge themselves in international olympiads.
For us, every participation is an opportunity to learn, while every achievement is a motivation to move forward. Giada and Diona demonstrated that with hard work, preparation and confidence, Albanian students can represent their country with pride and achieve valuable results on the international stage.