I'm from that world of math Olympics. Never reached IMO, only top places on regional competitions (math, physics, programming), and know a lot of people who bee

I'm from that world of math Olympics. Never reached IMO, only top places on regional competitions (math, physics, programming), and know a lot of people who been there and who never participated. Some won the medals, graduated with MSc from universities and gave up with science. Some were not so good in competitions, but became very smart scientists and great math teachers. There's no rule, and I don't think this system is just a selection of the best, discouraging children who did not succeed from choosing math. It's just much easier and more natural to see the beauty of mathematics while spending enough time on learning, solving problems and engaging in competitions. Oh, yes, I'm still seeing it despite years in MIPT with some real math. There's a lot of fun in it. For example, we had "mathematical battles", when two teams had to present and defend their solutions and get score points from jury. It's also a very special and friendly environment, where you can meet people, connect to universities and build social network that will serve you for the whole of your life. I still have a lot of friends from summer math schools which I attended in early 90s. For many it's also a social lift, egalitarian by it's nature, where distinction between rich and poor is almost invisible (not like on the street or a schoolyard), it allows many children from small towns across the country to enter top universities and build successful career, not necessarily in science. I will never blame this system for presenting math "in wrong way". It doesn't have to show the world of grown-ups. And, by the way, we never heard the word "genius" (except applied to Pushkin or Einstein).