I don’t think that is cut and dry as such, being able to solve IMO(International Mathematics Olympiad) level problems require a significant level of creativity

I don’t think that is cut and dry as such, being able to solve IMO(International Mathematics Olympiad) level problems require a significant level of creativity and imagination, and folks who are good at it naturally have an aptitude(and perhaps an upper-hand as well) for problem solving in general, research or otherwise.