The Ultimate 'Excuse': The Olympic Games
We are all familiar with the classic excuse that the dog ate your homework. But Canadian figure skater Madeline Schizas raised the bar for students worldwide this weekend. While standing on the ice during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, she realized that a deadline for her sociology studies had passed. Her solution? Simply sending an honest email to her professor with a link to the official Olympic Committee press release as proof.
At Miss Salsa, we see this more often than you might think. In my 30 years in the dance world, I have seen countless young talents trying to combine their pre-university exams or university deadlines with international competitions or tours. Schizas' story is incredibly relatable to anyone who pursues a passion at a top level while the 'real world' keeps spinning.
What exactly happened in Milan
Madeline Schizas, a 22-year-old student at McMaster University in Ontario, actually thought her reflection report for her sociology course wasn't due until Sunday. The reality, however, was that the deadline was on Friday — the exact day she represented Canada in the team event's short program. According to a report by TMZ, she shared a screenshot of her email on Instagram, in which she politely asked for an extension because her "Olympic obligations got in the way."
It wasn't an easy day for the four-time Canadian champion. During her performance on Friday, skating to music from The Lion King, the first four seconds of her music failed to play in the arena. With the composure we expect from top athletes (and experienced dancers), she skated to the referee to request a restart. Despite this stressful start, she finished sixth with a score of 64.97, helping Canada qualify for the team final on Sunday.
The balance between ice and books
Schizas is studying Human Behavior, and sociology is a major part of that. It is admirable how she combines this demanding course of study with a professional sports career. This is her second time participating in the Games; she also made an impression in Beijing in 2022. An article by Daily Hive Vancouver emphasizes how relatable her dilemma is for the modern generation of student-athletes. Fortunately, she let her followers know on Sunday that the professor was lenient: she got her extension.
The parallel with the Dutch dance world
From my experience at Miss Salsa, I know this isn't just a Canadian phenomenon. Look at the students at institutions like Codarts in Rotterdam or the Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts in Amsterdam. These young dancers are often in the studio 40 hours a week, while also having to keep up with theoretical subjects, anatomy, and cultural history.
In practice, I see that the discipline you build in the dance studio — or on the ice — actually helps you with your studies. You learn to plan, you learn to handle enormous pressure, and you know that giving up is not an option. But sometimes, as with Madeline, the schedule simply falls apart due to an overlap with a massive event. The fact that she had to include an official press release to justify her absence shows that even Olympic athletes sometimes hit bureaucratic walls.
What we can learn from Madeline
There are a few important lessons in this story for every dancer or athlete struggling with the combination of school and passion:
- Communication is everything: Madeline didn't wait until she was back home; she sent a message immediately. Honesty about your situation often works best.
- Stay professional: She included evidence. In the dance world, this could be a contract from a company or an invitation to an audition.
- Focus on the task: Despite the deadline stress and the faltering music, she performed on the ice. That ability to 'compartmentalize' is what sets a top performer apart from the rest.
It's tempting to think that top athletes have an easy life, but Madeline reminds us that between training sessions, they simply have to open their laptops for a report on social structures. She wears the label 'student-athlete' with pride, and rightly so. Deep respect for this double effort.
Whether the professor gives her an A for the report remains to be seen, but her performance in Milan was certainly worth its weight in gold for the Canadian team. It reminds us once again that passion and education can go hand in hand, provided you have the courage to occasionally ask for a little extra time.