AIMES awards submissions closing on 19 January 2024

DANIELLE MCKENZIE

Emerging Talent Award 2015

Surf Lifesaving (21 years old)

Danielle was born and raised on the North Shore attending Murrays Bay Intermediate followed by Rangitoto College where she first started Surf Life Saving. She has worked on the North Shore both as a volunteer life guard for seven years and as a paid lifeguard for Northern Region Surf Lifesaving.

From 14 years old, Danielle has been the national board champion in every age group from the U14 to open and national ski champion in the U16 and U19 age groups.

In 2015, she impressively won three Gold medals at the Australian National’s and 10 medals at the New Zealand Nationals.  She is featured prominently in the Australian Summer of Surf Series, placing in 13 events. On a provisional level she won 15 medals at the Northern Regional Surf Life Saving Championships and was a member of the Northern regional Trans-tasman team and was named ‘female athlete of the series’.

Internationally, Danielle is a member of the Black Fins NZ Surf Lifesaving team (current world champions), the world champion in the board and line throw, placed 2nd in the ski and Oceanwomen race and was 3rd in the Oceanwomen relay. Among other competition goals, Danielle is currently aiming for a podium finish in the World Champs Sprint Relay in 2016 and to retain her impressive world titles.

Danielle is also a professional Ironwoman, competing in the Kellog’s Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series in Australia. She placed 13th in 2014-15 and has again qualified for the 2015-16 series.

In addition to her international competing, she is a full time student at AUT studying a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation with a double major in sports science and management.


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