Chinese mathematicians Deng Yu and Wang Hong were awarded the Fields Medals at the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians held in the U.S. city Philadelphia on Thursday, marking the first time Chinese mathematicians have won the prestigious honor.
Deng was honored with the medal for his significant contributions to partial differential equations, while Wang received the same distinction for her groundbreaking work in harmonic analysis and geometric measure theory, and also becoming the third woman in history to earn this award.
"I feel very honored to be the third woman to receive this award. I hope everyone will have the courage to bravely do what they love," said Wang.
"I think this is very good news for China, and I am personally very happy. I hope that more things like this will happen in the future," said Deng.
Deng first studied at Peking University before transferring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and received his Ph.D. from Princeton University. Wang got her bachelor's at Peking University, a master's degree from Paris-Saclay University and a Ph.D. from the MIT.
Deng is a professor at the University of Chicago. Wang is a professor at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques in France and the Courant Institute at New York University.
American mathematician John Pardon and Canadian mathematician Jacob Tsimerman were also awarded the Fields Medal on the same day.
The Fields Medal is a top international mathematics prize awarded every four years to two to four young researchers in recognition of their outstanding mathematical achievements in existing work and their promise of future achievement.
Chinese mathematicians Deng Yu, Wang Hong awarded Fields Medals
Chinese mathematicians Deng Yu, Wang Hong awarded Fields Medals
