I think given the naive algorithm of both implementations, and the fact the python and cpp are near transliterations of each other, the article isn't really trying to make the literal statement of the words of its title. Of course the relationship between language semantics and actual raw performance on real hardware is probably a neverending topic.

I guess the article is more trying to make a statement along the lines of "here's how you benefit if you know python and pretend that means you know CPP too", (which seems like a fairly valid way to suck people into learning CPP to me)