Professor Watches His Student Compete At The Olympics After She Requested An Extension On An Assignment

February 12, 2026

Most students have reasons for needing a little extra time on an assignment—but competing in the Olympics might be one of the best ever.

Madeline Schizas / @skate_canada

Canadian figure skater Madeline Schizas, who represents Team Canada, recently found herself in that exact situation. After attending the opening ceremony and competing in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, she realized she had mixed up the due date for a reflection assignment in her Sociology 2FF3 course at McMaster University.

“I am a student in your Sociology 2FF3 course and am wondering if I could get a short extension on this week's reflection,” she wrote in an email to her professor, Vic Satzewich, which she later shared on Instagram Stories.

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

Her professor’s response was as supportive as it was understanding.

“Hi Madeline. Wow! What a special moment,” Satzewich replied in the email, which McMaster University later shared on Instagram. “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.”

He also added a note of encouragement: “Good luck—the whole country is rooting for you and your teammates,” before joking, “PS, When I was ten, I scored a goal in hockey and that was challenging enough for me.”

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcast Network, Satzewich said Schizas’ request came as a complete surprise, since she had never mentioned to him that she would be competing in the Olympics.

“This is a pretty good reason to ask for an extension,” he said. “…I never had a request for that before.”