The recently conducted Python Olympiads 2025 by GEMA Education was won by Yohanes Arya Prasteyuda, who studies in Indonesia. He has been very passionate and interested in coding since grade 8 and this is what makes him different from others.
He has a keen interest in Python and Lua and has participated in various competitions too. He enjoys coding as an interactive experience and a game rather than a career oriented skill.
Talking about how his interest began in coding and programming, he shares that he first was interested in Python when he realised how versatile it is as a coding language. He started exploring graphical user interfaces using libraries too. He also stated how Python can transform imagination into something tangible.
Motivation and Preparation
When asked about his motivation to participate in the Olympiad he tells us that first his friend mentioned there was a competition that focuses on Python programming he decided to take the initiative to participate. He had a little experience in Python during that time and saw the Olympiad as an opportunity to apply his skills and express his gratuity through code.
His preparation basically started with reviewing the competition criteria, understanding the expectations for his category and once he had a clear vision he started envisioning the type of content he wanted to create. He planned the outline and ensured it aligned with the given guidelines. He also made a schedule to dedicate what days he would work on what part.
Obstacles
When the interviewer asked about the challenges he faced during preparation, Arya answered that he struggled with consistent motivation, there were days he felt inspired and motivated but there were also days he felt like giving up. He also dealt with frustration during unexpected errors in the code. The key is to never give up and keep working, and that’s how you win.
He found the process testing his patience but also it taught him resilience and kept him working hard and worth it. He finds the field of Artificial Intelligence, particularly neural networks, to be the most fascinating part of python. He talks about a game where AI is used to record the players data and behaviour for the game. He looks forward to exploring more about the application of AI in robotics. Yohanes prefers to work on his projects alone as it helps him focus and process his thoughts clearly and deeply without distractions.
Other Interests
Other than Python and coding, Arya loved to play with Lego as a child and he also exercises everyday to refresh himself after long hours of studying. Talking about his ideals and motivations, he talks about J. Robert Oppenheimer and Alan Turing, he is always fascinated to watch films about their life and it inspires him.
Future goals
About his future, Arya says he will most likely pursue Python and he is currently also learning C++. In the future he would love to explore the application of pythons in different fields to make it more interactive.
Lastly he would advise students to carefully review the competition criteria, guidelines and plan accordingly.