For most university students, the "dog ate my homework" excuse is a classic cliché. But for Canadian figure skater and McMaster University student Madeline Schizas, the reason for missing a deadline was a bit more valid—and a lot more golden. The 22-year-old athlete has become an overnight internet sensation during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, not just for her skating, but for a hilariously casual email sent to her professor requesting an assignment extension because she "kind of forgot" about the deadline while competing on the world's biggest stage.
The Viral McMaster University Assignment Extension Request
The viral moment began just hours after Schizas competed in the women's team event short program on Friday, February 6, 2026. Realizing she had missed a due date for a weekly reflection paper in her sociology course, she fired off an email that has since been dubbed the "ultimate student-athlete flex."
In a screenshot posted to her Instagram story, Schizas revealed the email to her professor, which read: "Wondering if I could get a short extension on this week's reflection. I was competing in the Olympic Games yesterday and thought it was due on Sunday, not Friday."
To ensure her professor understood the gravity of her excuse, she helpfully attached a link to the Canadian Olympic Committee's press release confirming her participation. She captioned the post with a sarcastic "LOLLLL I ❤️ being a student athlete," instantly resonating with students and sports fans alike who found the juxtaposition of Olympic pressure and mundane coursework hilarious.
"I Kind of Forgot": The Quote That Won the Internet
What truly solidified Schizas' status as a 2026 Winter Olympics meme legend was her candid follow-up commentary. In a subsequent update, she admitted the absurdity of the situation with dry humor: "The Olympics are a big deal. I kind of forgot."
The phrase "I kind of forgot" immediately started trending, with social media users adopting it as a new catchphrase for their own life blunders. Users on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok praised her for keeping her priorities famously mixed up, joking that forgetting you are in the Olympics to stress about a sociology paper is the most relatable "Type A" student behavior imaginable.
Did She Get the Extension?
Fortunately for Schizas—and the millions of invested internet onlookers—her professor was understanding. On Sunday, February 9, she posted a triumphant update: "Since it seems everyone was quite invested, I did get my extension lol." She added a crying emoji, noting, "I can't believe anyone cared so much. Good learning lesson about the spotlight of the Olympics."
Double Viral: The "Snarling Face" Meme
Remarkably, the Madeline Schizas extension email wasn't her only viral moment of the opening weekend. Just a day prior, she captured the internet's attention with a fierce, "snarling" reaction to her scores in the "kiss and cry" area following her short program performance.
Her unfiltered facial expression, which seemed to question the judges' scoring, was quickly screen-grabbed and circulated as a reaction image for everything from confusing work emails to disappointing food orders. By dominating the news cycle with both her competitive fire and her relatable student struggles, Schizas has emerged as one of the breakout personalities of the Milan Cortina 2026 viral news cycle.
The Reality of the Student Athlete Extension Request
While the memes are funny, Schizas' situation highlights the intense reality of being a top-tier student-athlete. Currently a senior majoring in Environment and Society at McMaster University, she is attempting to complete her degree while representing Canada on the ice.
Schizas, who also competed in the 2022 Beijing Games, is known for her deadpan humor and academic dedication. Her ability to balance the pressure of the Milan Cortina 2026 games with the mundane stress of weekly reflection papers has endeared her to a global audience. As fans continue to follow her journey in the women's individual event later this week, many will be rooting not just for a medal, but for her to hit "submit" on that rescheduled assignment.
For now, Madeline Schizas holds the unofficial gold medal for the best excuse in academic history. After all, it's hard to argue with a doctor's note when your "doctor" is the International Olympic Committee and your "appointment" is a televised performance in front of millions.
