Canadian Skater Madeline Schizas Seeks Assignment Extension from Professor via Email
Canadian figure skater Madeline Schizas is facing a unique dilemma. She recently emailed her professor at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, seeking an extension for a sociology assignment. The reason? She was busy fulfilling her obligations as an Olympian.
Request for Assignment Extension
In her email, Schizas explained that she mistakenly thought the assignment was due on Sunday, not Friday. She mentioned her tight schedule, indicating that her participation in the Olympics prevented her from completing the task on time. To support her request, she included an article confirming her involvement in the Olympic Games.
Performance at the Olympics
- Event: Women’s single skating short program
- Date: Friday, February 7, 2026
- Result: Sixth place finish
- Contributed to: Canadian women’s figure skating team reaching the finals
This marks Schizas’ second appearance at the Olympics. Previously, she competed in three events during the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing.
Balancing Athletics and Academics
As a self-proclaimed student-athlete, Schizas emphasizes the importance of her academic responsibilities alongside her athletic career. This situation raises the question of how professors should handle requests from student-athletes. Should they receive special considerations, or are they held to the same standards as their classmates?
Schizas’ case highlights the challenges faced by student-athletes as they strive to excel both in their sport and in their studies. The response from her professor remains to be seen, but the discussion about academic flexibility for athletes continues to be relevant.
