Madeline Schizas may have fallen short of her goal of winning an Olympic medal, but she became the center of an early viral moment. Many student-athletes know how hard it is to balance school and sports. However, Schizas faced this on the world stage.
The Canadian figure skater went viral after emailing her professor to request an extension on a class assignment. At the time, she was preparing to compete at the Olympics.
Professors often receive extension requests. Most are illness or family-related matters. A request because of Olympic competition is rare.
Schizas represented Canada in the women’s team short program. She saw that her assignment was due during the Olympics. The Canadian figure skater emailed her professor to explain the situation.
Schizas shared a screenshot of the email to her Instagram story. It showed her polite request to a sociology professor at McMaster University.
“Hi professor, wondering if I could get a short extension on this week’s reflection,” Schizas wrote. “I was competing in the Olympic Games yesterday and thought it was due on Sunday, not Friday.”
She added: “LOL I [heart emoji] being a student athlete.”
Schizas also included a link confirming she was competing at the Milano Cortina Olympic Games.
The email quickly spread online. Several news outlets shared it on their social media.
Many praised Schizas’ honesty and humor, and public support poured in. Her Instagram following significantly grew as a result.
Madeline Schizas Shares Update from Her Extension Request
Madeline Schizas later shared an update about her extension request. She confirmed that her professor responded and approved it. McMaster University also acknowledged the viral Olympic moment.
The Canadian figure skater received strong support from her social media followers. Her viral email became an early feel-good moment for Team Canada during the 2026 Winter Games.
Before her event, Schizas posted an update and thanked supporters on Instagram.
“Since it seems everyone was quite invested, I did get my extension lol,” Schizas wrote. “I can’t believe anyone cared so much [crying emoji].”
Schizas also reflected on the attention that comes with Olympic competition.
“Good learning lesson about the spotlight of the Olympics.”
McMaster University Shares Professor’s Response to Schizas
McMaster University later shared her professor’s response on its official Instagram page.
The professor showed strong support for Schizas. That message reassured her and encouraged her to focus on her Olympic performance. Schizas’ professor said the situation clearly justified an extension.
“Hi Madeline. Wow! What a special moment. Yes, in the circumstances, an extension is perfectly fine. I’d say focus on the competition right now, and submit it directly to me when it is done,” Schizas’ professor wrote.
The professor wished her luck and ended the email with a lighthearted message.
“The triple lutz triple toe combo is a pretty hard move to master, but you’ve got this. Good luck – the whole country is rooting for you and your teammates,” Schizas’ professor wrote. “PS, when I was ten, I scored a goal in hockey and that was challenging enough for me.”
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