Agastya Goel is an Indian-origin American student who was one of the five gold medal-winning members of the U.S. team at the 2025 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).
Washington: The U.S. Physics Team achieved unprecedented success at the 2025 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held in Paris, securing all five gold medals. The name of the talented Indian-origin student, Agastya Goel, is also among those in this historic victory. This achievement by 17-year-old Agastya has sparked a wave of pride not only in America but also in India. U.S. President Donald Trump met and honored the entire team at the White House.
Who is Agastya Goel?
Agastya Goel is a junior student at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California. He was born and raised in the United States, but his roots are connected to India. Agastya's father, Professor Ashish Goel, is a Professor of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University. Ashish Goel is originally from Uttar Pradesh and topped the prestigious IIT-JEE examination in 1990.
International Achievements
Agastya Goel has previously demonstrated his talent. He won gold medals twice consecutively at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). In 2024, he scored 438.97 out of 600 points and secured fourth place globally. Meanwhile, Kangyang Zhou from China achieved a perfect score that year. These accomplishments have earned Agastya a distinct identity among America's young scientific talents.
Initially, Agastya's interest leaned more towards computer science. However, in the winter of 2023, his interest gradually shifted towards physics. Long hikes and discussions with his father deepened his scientific thinking. As a result, he began an intensive study of physics and proved his capability by winning an international gold medal in just two years.
Agastya is not limited to science alone. His interests are remarkably diverse. According to his LinkedIn profile, he greatly enjoys tennis, hiking, music, and stargazing. He is proficient in playing the guitar and piano and is an active member of his school's choir. Furthermore, he is involved with Gunn High School's tennis team, programming club, and board game club.
Meeting President Trump
Agastya's father, Professor Ashish Goel, studied Computer Science at IIT Kanpur and later moved to the U.S., making significant contributions to academia. He has also conducted important research on algorithmic game theory, computational social science, and computer networks. This academic background of the family has provided Agastya with a high level of inspiration.
Following their victory at IPhO 2025, the U.S. team was invited to the White House. There, President Donald Trump honored all team members – Agastya Goel, Alan Li, Joshua Wang, Feodor Yevtushenko, and Brian Zhang. On this occasion, Trump referred to the young talents as the future of America and praised their hard work.
