Westminster School News OWW News
Recent Old Westminster Philip Chalakov helped the UK team secure bronze medals at the Economics Olympiad, and a personal gold medal
Philip (OW2026, WW) and the UK team joined 147 participants from 32 countries at the international final of the Economics Olympiad in Greece, in August. Over a rigorous two days, competitors took on case studies, presentations, collaborative projects and papers on microeconomics and financial literacy, guided by leading economists, entrepreneurs, and academics. Between them, the UK team of five achieved third place behind Chinese Taipei and a team from the Americas, taking four individual medals and two spots in the global top five, one of which was Philip who was awarded a gold medal.
This global success marked the end of a long process for Philip. He was one of more than 4,000 students who tried out for the UK team. He competed in the school and regional rounds before making it to the national final where the top ten students were selected having made a presentation on an economics problem.
Globally, more than 160,000 students aged 14-20 from 5,570 schools across 63 countries started the process, which ended at the final in Greece.
Philip said: “Getting to go to Greece to compete in the Olympiad International Final and meet so many fantastic people from all around the world was just the most amazing experience. I’m really pleased to have had the chance to help Team UK secure the bronze medal alongside my wonderful teammates, and it was an incredible achievement to individually get a gold medal and come fifth in a competition full of such talented economists. I’m also really grateful to all my economics teachers at Westminster (especially Mr Mikdadi for offering us the chance to sign up), as well as Helen and Carlo from Time2Resources, for organising the whole thing and leading the UK team to Greece.”
Westminster teacher of economics, Marwan Mikdadi said: “I was delighted to be able to support such a talented Economist as Philip from the first round, back in February, all the way through to the final of the Economics Olympiad. This was the first year that UK entered a team into the Economics Olympiad so it makes all his teachers so proud to see Philip’s individual success in coming fifth overall and winning a gold medal and the whole UK team’s success in achieving a bronze medal in their own right”.
The UK team was selected by Time2Resources, led by Helen Coupland-Smith and Carlo Mencattelli, who wrote: “Beyond the results, what impressed us most was the way all five students conducted themselves. They supported one another, embraced every opportunity and represented their schools and the UK with maturity, enthusiasm and professionalism. They were an absolute pleasure to spend the week with, and you should be incredibly proud of them.”
Between 80 and 90 pupils take Economics A Level at Westminster each year, with many going onto study the subject and related courses like PPE at top universities in the UK and overseas. The School’s pupil-led Economics Society runs frequent talks and a current affairs publication The Westminster Economist. Pupils are encouraged to enter external competitions with the support of the Department, winning prizes from prestigious institutions worldwide.
