For most final-year university students, February is a blur of deadlines, late-night revisions and graduation anxiety. For Madeline Schizas, it also includes competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage. The 22-year-old Canadian figure skater, currently in her senior year at McMaster University, found herself juggling psychology assignments while representing Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Coursework, as it turns out, does not stop for the Olympics.
Schizas, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Environment & Society, was in action on Friday as part of Canada’s figure skating team event. Amid training sessions, competition schedules and travel, an academic deadline slipped by, prompting her to send a candid email to her professor requesting an extension.
On Saturday, Schizas shared a screenshot of the email on social media, instantly resonating with students and sports fans alike. “Hi Prof. I am a student in your Sociology 2FF3 course and am wondering if I could get a short extension on this week’s reflection. I was competing in the Olympic Games yesterday and thought the reflection was due on Sunday, not Friday,” she wrote. She even included a link to her Olympic performance as context.
The response? The extension was granted. Schizas is no stranger to balancing elite sport and academics. She previously represented Canada at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and is once again the country’s sole entrant in the women’s individual figure skating event, scheduled to begin on 17 February. Before that, she has already contributed to Canada’s campaign in the team competition.
After three of the four segments, Team Canada sits fifth, with only the top five teams advancing to the free skate and remaining in medal contention.
The moment struck a chord far beyond figure skating circles, Schizas’ story is a snapshot of modern student-athlete life where Olympic dreams and university obligations often share the same calendar. For Schizas, the lesson was clear: chasing excellence sometimes means doing it both on the ice and in the inbox.
