Olympics-Figure skating-Canadian Schizas had good excuse for missing university assignment


Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Figure Skating - Team Event - Women Single Skating - Short Program - Milano Ice Skating Arena, Milan, Italy - February 06, 2026. Madeline Schizas of Canada reacts with her team after performing during women's short program. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

MILAN, Feb ‌8 (Reuters) - Canadian figure skater Madeline Schizas found herself juggling ‌Olympic pressure and student life this week after realising ‌a university sociology assignment was due sooner she thought.

Schizas said she discovered on Saturday that her course work deadline had been Friday, when she was competing ‍in the women's figure skating team ‍event short programme.

The 22‑year‑old promptly ‌emailed her professor to explain the mix‑up — then shared the moment ‍with ​her 38,000 Instagram followers, posting a screenshot of her apology and plea for an extension along with ⁠a press release from the Canadian Olympic Committee announcing ‌her participation at the Games.

"I was competing in the Olympic Games yesterday ⁠and I ‍thought the (assignment) was due on Sunday, not Friday," she wrote to the professor.

Schizas studies human behaviour at McMaster University in Hamilton.

"LOLLLL I love ‍being a student athlete," she wrote ‌in her Instagram post.

She told the CBC on Saturday evening that she had not yet heard back from her professor.

"I didn't expect anyone to really care," she said about the reaction to her social media post. "I just thought it was funny."

Asked how her professor might respond, she said: "I don't know, I'm just shooting my ‌shot on this one. We'll see if I get to redo it or not."

Schizas will compete in the free programme on the final day ​of the team event on Sunday evening. Canada are in fourth place, two points behind third-placed Italy.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Others

New trial over soccer legend Maradona's death begins in Argentina
Figure skating-Japan's Kagiyama to take break from competition in 2026-27 season
Horse racing-I Am Maximus Grand National victory costs British bookmakers dear
Soccer player Partey pleads not guilty to additional rape charges in UK
Fiji's Nadi 7s dominate as Borneo Flyers shine on home soil
Sailing-Australia take SailGP lead with dominant Rio win
Iran intend to take part in�Sepak Takraw World Cup but not the US
Rallying-Katsuta wins in Croatia and takes WRC lead after Neuville crashes on final stage
Sailing-Sweden’s Artemis win SailGP opener in Rio as Australia lead on opening day
Rallying-Neuville puts Hyundai on top in Croatia as rivals suffer punctures

Others Also Read