From Phuket to World #1: The Journey of a 9-Year-Old Coding Champion
When people see a 9-year-old winning international trophies against high schoolers, it is easy to assume they were just "born a genius."
But the story of Pavin "Pace" Pattanavekin isn't about overnight talent or natural-born magic. It is about a curious kid from Phuket who fell in love with a challenge, put in the hours, and learned to enjoy the process of solving hard problems step by step.
From writing his first lines of code at True Coding School to standing as a World Rank #1 Champion, here is how effort, practice, and the right mindset took Pace to the top of the world stage.
2024: Building the Foundation (Age 7)
Pace’s journey began with the International Scratch Olympiad 2024.
Like anyone starting out, Pace wasn't an instant expert. His progress came from trying, failing, debugging, and trying again. What set him apart early on was not innate genius, but his willingness to stay focused when a problem got tricky.
National Champion: Pace earned 1st Place nationwide in the Thailand qualifiers.
World Rank #2: In his international debut, his dedicated preparation paid off with a 2nd place finish globally.
This first win wasn't proof that he was born different—it was proof that consistent effort yields real results.
2025: Embracing the Challenge in NYC (Age 8)
By 2025, Pace took on a major test at the Neo Science Olympiad Grand Final in New York City.
As a Grade 2 student, he was moved up to compete against older students in Grades 3 to 5 across Math, Science, and Coding.
Natural talent only gets you so far when you are up against students two to three years older who have spent more time in school. To bridge that gap, Pace had to double down on his preparation, mastering advanced logic concepts and building endurance for long, high-pressure exams.
The NYC Result: A 5-Gold Medal Sweep
1st Place Gold – Mathematics Olympiad (Grade 3)
Global Top 3 (Gold) – Coding (Grades 3–5)
Global Top 3 (Gold) – International Online Coding Exam
1st Place Gold – Coding (International Final)
1st Place Gold – Natural Science (International Final)
Taking home five gold medals wasn't luck—it was the direct outcome of pushing past his comfort zone.
2026: Reaching the Summit in Rome (Age 9)
In July 2026, the hard work culminated at the International STEM & Coding Olympiad Grand Final in Rome, Italy.
The field was massive:
153+ countries
38,000+ competitors
Grades 3–11 coding division
At age 9, Pace found himself sitting in exam halls surrounded by middle and high school students. But logic doesn't care about your age, and computational thinking doesn't come from a natural gift—it comes from practice.
While others stressed, Pace relied on the thousands of problems he had already solved back home.
When the results came in, his effort reached its ultimate milestone:
2× Global Champion – 1st Place (World Rank #1) in Coding (Grades 3–11)
Global Top 3 Gold in Online Coding Exam
Global Top 3 Gold in Math Olympiad (Grades 3–5)
Gold Medal in Science Olympiad (Grades 3–5)
Effort Over Genius: The Real Takeaway
It is easy to label young achievers as "prodigies," but that label ignores the real work behind the scenes.
Pace didn't wake up one day knowing how to write complex algorithms. His journey shows what happens when a kid’s curiosity is backed by real dedication:
Debugging is part of the job: Behind every flawless final script were dozens of broken attempts that Pace had to patiently fix.
Growth happens outside the comfort zone: Choosing to compete against older age groups meant choosing harder problems and more work.
The right environment matters: Behind Pace is a family that encouraged learning through trial and error, alongside his instructors at True Coding School who helped channel his effort into world-class skills.
Pace’s story proves that world-class results aren't reserved for a select few born with "genius genes." With curiosity, effort, and the courage to try, any young learner can go further than they ever expected.
Help Your Child Build Their Own Journey
Pace’s story is incredible, but the biggest takeaway isn't just about winning global titles. it's about giving a child the space to be curious, learn through practice, and discover what they can achieve when they put in the effort.
Whether your child is taking their very first steps into coding or looking to take on bigger challenges, every great journey starts with a single line of code.
At True Coding School Phuket, we focus on building real problem-solving skills, logic, and confidence step by step. helping young learners explore their potential in an environment that makes learning engaging and rewarding.
Ready to start their journey?
Phone: +66 62 086 7916
LINE: Truecoding.phuket
Location: 65/31 Moo 2, Chaofa-Suanluang Road, Vichit, Phuket