The purpose of this article is to review "Mathematics and Science Olympiad Studies." The studies undertook the task of evaluating the effectiveness of chemistry, math, and physics Olympiad programs by tracking down their participants from the inception of these programs. The main research questions were: Do these competitions generate creative professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and do their graduates make important contributions? What are the crucial factors for their success in STEM careers? To answer these questions, surveys and instruments were synthesized and administered to Olympians and to their parents. For 11 years, 1,093 Olympians in six countries were tracked down to find out their careers and their accomplishments and the factors contributing to these successes. These academic competitions were found to make a strong contribution to STEM talent development and produce creative STEM professionals. Crucial contributing factors commonly found across countries were: (1) Early recognition of STEM talent and conducive home environment; (2) Specialized challenging programs for developing strong STEM foundations and opportunities to participate in STEM activities and competitions during the schooling period; and (3) Strong motivation and efforts on the part of the Olympians for success throughout the developmental stages.