Israeli teen’s IOI gold medal revoked after displaying Israeli flag at awards ceremony

A 17-year-old Israeli student, Yotam Budnik from Rehovot, had his gold medal revoked at the 2026 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Uzbekistan after displaying the Israeli flag during the awards ceremony, violating a rule against national symbols. Team leader Ron Ryvchin said Budnik protested the policy, which he felt erased Israeli identity. The committee disqualified him, changed his score to zero, and removed him from the rankings. Three other Israeli students won gold and one won bronze.

A 17-year-old Israeli student, Yotam Budnik from Rehovot, had his gold medal revoked at the 2026 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Uzbekistan after he displayed the Israeli flag during the awards ceremony, in violation of a rule prohibiting national symbols. Team leader Ron Ryvchin told The Jerusalem Post that Budnik acted as a protest, feeling that Israeli students were being erased from their national identity. The international committee disqualified him, changed his score to zero, and removed him from the official rankings. Budnik initially refused to hand over his medal until his teammates received theirs. Ryvchin described the competition as "really great," noting that three other Israeli students won gold and one won bronze. He expressed pride in the students and hoped the IOI would leave politics out of the competition. The ban on Israeli symbols has been in place since October 7, and this year the students competed as independent contestants.