Chinese Mathematicians Win First-Ever Fields Medal
In a historic milestone for Chinese science, mathematicians Deng Yu and Wang Hong have become the first Chinese nationals ever awarded the Fields Medal, often regarded as the Nobel Prize of mathematics. The prize was presented on July 23, 2026, at the opening ceremony of the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in Philadelphia, USA.
The two Chinese scholars were among four recipients of the prestigious award, which is given every four years to mathematicians under the age of 40. The other winners were John Pardon of Stony Brook University and Jacob Tsimerman of the University of Toronto, according to New Scientist.
A Landmark Achievement for Chinese Mathematics
The Fields Medal, established by Canadian mathematician John Charles Fields, carries a prize of 15,000 Canadian dollars (approximately $10,500 USD) and is awarded to no more than four recipients per cycle. While ethnic Chinese mathematicians Shing-Tung Yau and Terence Tao had previously won the medal, both were not Chinese nationals at the time of their awards, as Xinhua News reported.
“This is a historic breakthrough for Chinese mathematics and a landmark achievement,” said Zhang Jiping, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Peking University, in analysis published by Xinhua.
Wang Hong: Solving the Century-Old Kakeya Conjecture
Wang Hong, born in 1991 in Guilin, Guangxi, made history as only the third woman to win the Fields Medal in its nearly 90-year history. She was recognized for proving the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture, a problem that had baffled mathematicians for over a century.
The Kakeya conjecture, first posed by Japanese mathematician Sōichi Kakeya in 1917, asks what the minimum space a needle in midair needs to point in every direction. Wang and her collaborator Josh Zahl solved this problem using sophisticated multi-scale induction methods. She also made major breakthroughs on the two-dimensional Falconer distance problem and completely solved the Furstenberg set conjecture.
Wang’s achievement was described as “the biggest breakthrough of the century” by mathematicians, as reported by the BBC. Speaking after the award, Wang said, “This means a lot to me and my collaborators.” She recalled learning about Terence Tao’s Fields Medal in high school from a mathematics magazine: “Today, I am equally excited.”
Deng Yu: Unifying the Laws of Physics
Deng Yu, born in 1989 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, was honored for making key progress on Hilbert’s 6th problem, one of 23 problems posed by German mathematician David Hilbert in 1900 that have guided mathematical research for over a century.
Deng completed the rigorous derivation of the hard-sphere particle system to the Boltzmann equation over long time scales, establishing a derivation chain from Newtonian hard-sphere dynamics to the Boltzmann equation to the Navier-Stokes equations. This work effectively unifies microscopic and macroscopic physics, connecting the motion of individual particles to the behavior of entire gas systems.
“Deng’s work radically improved our understanding of how macroscopic behaviour arises from behaviour on much smaller scales,” New Scientist noted in its coverage.
Speaking at the post-award press conference, Deng said, “It is a great honor to have my name listed alongside the great mathematicians I have always admired.”
Shared Roots at Peking University
Both mathematicians share a remarkably similar educational trajectory. They completed their K-12 education in China and entered Peking University (PKU) in 2007. Wang initially enrolled in PKU’s School of Earth and Space Sciences before transferring to the School of Mathematical Sciences after a year, driven by her love for mathematics. Deng, an International Mathematical Olympiad gold medalist, was admitted directly to the School of Mathematical Sciences.
As Xinhua reported, PKU’s School of Mathematical Sciences provided a fertile environment for both scholars. The institution features a unique pedagogy including undeclared majors initially, low-level discussion groups, and undergraduate research seminars. “The study at Peking University laid a very solid foundation for me,” Deng recalled.
Academic Careers and International Recognition
After completing their undergraduate studies, both pursued doctoral degrees abroad. Deng earned his PhD from Princeton University in 2015 and is currently a professor at the University of Chicago. Wang earned her Master’s from Paris-Sud University and a PhD from MIT, and is currently a professor at NYU’s Courant Institute as well as a permanent professor at the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES) in France.
French President Emmanuel Macron personally called Wang on the evening of the award ceremony, writing on social media that she “embodies the excellence of our scientific research and education.”
Implications for Chinese Science
The achievement has been hailed across China as validation of the country’s long-term investment in basic science. Chinese academicians Shing-Tung Yau and Tian Gang both praised the accomplishment. “This means Chinese mathematics stands at a new position internationally,” Tian said.
The award trended across Chinese social media platforms including Weibo and Xiaohongshu, with topics garnering millions of views. One Weibo user wrote: “The pride of all Chinese people.”
What’s Next
The success of Deng and Wang is expected to inspire a new generation of Chinese mathematicians and strengthen the country’s resolve to develop world-class talent in basic sciences. With China continuing to invest heavily in mathematical research and education, and with Peking University implementing new programs for graduate-level mathematics training, the foundation for future breakthroughs appears stronger than ever.
As the two mathematicians step into the global spotlight, their journey from classrooms in Shenzhen and Guilin to the pinnacle of mathematical achievement serves as both a testament to individual brilliance and a signal of China’s rising prominence in the world of fundamental research.