Vladimir's talents range from math to karate. His parents fostered an interest in puzzles and logic from a young age, and online resources helped him develop his skills before he enrolled in a top STEM school. The more he practiced math, the more interested he became. Writing his high school thesis in combinatorics has gotten Vladimir excited to do even more research in university and beyond. He shares favorite topics in math, a common misconception about competitions, and what he enjoys doing with his hands during down time.

We caught up before he started university (interview edited for length and clarity):