Alex Ritson

Justin Rowlett.

It has to be one of the great homework excuses.

Madeleine Skizas emailed her university professor saying I am a student in your sociology course and I'm wondering if I could get a short extension on this week's reflection.

I was competing.

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

She's a Canadian figure skater and she's 22.

Her professor gave her the extension.

She posted the exchange on social media and it went viral.

Tim Franks spoke to Madelinsky's ass.

He asked her about the moment she realised the assignment was due.

My goodness.

And this was what?

This was in your sociology class.

What was it that you had to do?

You then posted it after your prof sent you an email back to say, I had absolutely no idea that you were competing in the Winter Games.

And you've been sort of very polite about this, but it must be quite difficult to hold the two things together.

I mean, you are competing at the highest level.

And to do that whilst at the same time just having half an eye on what your demands are back home, that must be tough.

And when you're back home, I mean, how many hours a day or how many hours a week are you having to train?

Because that must be extremely demanding as well.