Fields Medal Winners from China: Math Geniuses with a Love for Anime

On July 23, Chinese mathematicians Wang Hong and Deng Yu received the 2026 Fields Medal in Philadelphia—a historic first for China. Wang also became only the third woman ever to receive math’s highest honor.

Netizens soon noticed their confident, relaxed demeanor and shared passion for anime—a stark contrast to the high-pressure, competition-driven atmosphere often associated with China’s academic world. These charming, humanizing details have ignited widespread discussion about researchers and academic culture.