(SHENZHEN, CHINA) -- Shashank Madala, a rising senior at Robbinsville High School, and Jesse Zhang from Elite Preparatory Academy in Hopatcong, were two of five students selected by the USA Economics and Business Olympiad (USAEBO) to represent the United States at the 2026 International Economics Olympiad (IEO). The event took place July 12-19 in Shenzhen.
The International Economics Olympiad is an annual competition for high school students in economics, finance and business. Contestants complete economics and finance assessments and collaborate on a business case presentation before an international jury.
This was the first year the United States competed at the IEO in person, and Team USA placed 6th out of 52 national teams in the International Business Case Competition. Team USA earned one gold medal, one silver medal and one bronze medal in the international competition.
The USA Economics and Business Olympiad is the U.S. national selection pathway for K-12 students seeking to join Team USA at the International Economics Olympiad. The 2026 selection used two rounds, with five students chosen from the second round to represent the United States.
Team USA was represented by Praneeth Annapureddy — BASIS Chandler, Chandler, AZ; Shashank Madala — Robbinsville High School, Robbinsville, NJ; Eli Orbach — Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH; Utsav Sunil Kumar — Heritage High School, Frisco, TX; and Jesse Zhang — Elite Preparatory Academy, Hopatcong, NJ.
The results highlight the delegation's strength across economics, finance and business problem-solving.
TEAM USA MEDAL RESULTS
GOLD Eli Orbach | Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH (Also recognized as Best in Economics)
SILVER Praneeth Annapureddy | BASIS Chandler, Chandler, AZ
BRONZE Jesse Zhang | Elite Preparatory Academy, Hopatcong, NJ
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION
Utsav Sunil Kumar | Heritage High School in Frisco, Texas, was selected as a finalist in the IEOx Youth Talks.
