Danielle McKenzie was competing in New Zealand when the Aussies were cancelled

Danielle McKenzie was in the middle of dominating the national New Zealand surf lifesaving championships when news came through that the Aussies and Queensland titles had been cancelled.

DANIELLE McKenzie was in the middle of dominating the national New Zealand surf lifesaving championships when news came through that the Aussies and Queensland titles had been cancelled.

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Within days, she’d lost her job, been forced into self-isolation and been forced to watch as the events she’d been training so hard for were cancelled one by one.

Danielle McKenzie after winning her fifth NZ board title. SUPPLIED

The 25-year-old now holds a record 41 national New Zealand surf lifesaving titles, including four in the open ironwoman and ski race and five in the board, and had grand plans to compete around the world in various ocean ski races this year which have now been thrown out the window.

“We were in the middle of racing when we found out so we were like well this is the pinnacle of our sport right now and we’re so thankful we’re still racing,” McKenzie said.

“My original thoughts were like okay I still will have the chance to keep ocean ski paddling but that’s all changed as well because you can’t travel.

“I’ve grown up doing surf lifesaving in New Zealand and we have a great camaraderie at my surf club so it was a pretty positive environment to be in at the time even though Aussies and Worlds have now been cancelled and postponed.

“It’s now sunk in that we don’t get to race for a while but there are so many bigger things going on in the world and being healthy is the biggest priority right now.”

Danielle McKenzie keeping fit while in isolation. SUPPLIED

Since returning from New Zealand, the Northcliffe ironwoman has been under a mandatory 14 day self-isolation period at home due to international travel regulations.

McKenzie has had to get creative to keep fit, making use of tires, a ski paddle ergo and band exercises to concoct daily backyard workouts.

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“At the moment I’ve been taking it day by day,” she said.

“I’ve been trying to keep motivated and healthy but I’ve had to throw honestly throw everything out the window and start from scratch.”

The master of teaching student has also lost her job at the Broadbeach Bowls club as athletes around the world begin to look at ways of supporting themselves during the global sporting shutdown.

“Honestly, I’d pick up any job that I can at the moment,” she said.

“I’d be happy enough to work at Coles.

“Also being from New Zealand, I can’t access any of the benefits either like superannuation or Centrelink even though we pay taxes which has been disappointing and just another hurdle.

“A lot of us now are looking at other ways we can support ourselves outside of being an athlete so it’s been a pretty big wake up call for people everywhere.”