Canadian Madeline Schizas Goes Viral After Asking For A Homework Extension – From The Olympics

When it comes to reasons to ask for an extension on a homework assignment, this one ranks far better than the classic “my dog ate it.”

Madeline Schizas found herself in an awkward predicament after missing a deadline for an assignment and wrote her professor at McMaster University to request an extension.

The reason she missed the deadline: She’s competing the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.

The Canadian figure skater posted a snap of her laptop screen with the email written to her prof. It quickly went viral.

“I am a student in your Sociology course and am wondering if I could get a short extension on this week’s reflection,” the email read.

“I was competing in the Olympic Games yesterday and thought it was due on Sunday, not Friday.”

Schizas added a link to a press release to show that she was, in fact, not joking about her unique circumstance.

“LOLLLL I (heart) being a student athlete” she also wrote in her post.

Schizas spoke with CBC on Saturday and talked about becoming an instant internet sensation for simply posting an email on Instagram.

“I didn’t expect anyone to really care,” Schizas said. “I just thought it was really funny … I’m just shooting my shot on this one.

Schizas also explained it wasn’t a matter of being too busy with training and competing, it was that she had simply messed up the due date.

“You have a lot of free time at the Olympics, I don’t think people realize,” she said. “I could have sat down and done that (homework), but it was locked.”

Her professor apparently was easily swayed by the 22-year-old’s student’s email and granted her the extension.

“Since it seems everyone was quite invested, I did get my extension,” Schizas wrote. “I can’t believe anyone cared so much. Good learning lesson about the spotlight of the Olympics.”

The professor even showed his support from back home in Canada. Schizas posted an Instagram story on Sunday of the prof watching her compete on TV.

The Oakville, Ont., native competed in the women’s free skate as part of the team event on Sunday, finishing fifth.

She will get another shot at reaching the podium next week, when she will compete as Canada’s lone figure skater in the women’s singles short program and free skate.

The medal events for those will go on Feb. 17 and Feb. 19, respectively.