In 1989, she won the first of three consecutive Australian Junior 100 m titles, also winning the Junior 200 m championships in 1989 and 1991.
At the 1990 World Junior Championships Gainsford reached the semi-finals of both the 100 and 200 metres sprints and assisted the Australian 4 x 100 metres relay team to a new national junior record of 45.01 seconds.
Senior career
Although Gainsford-Taylor became a world champion in 1995, her senior career really began when she won the first of five 100m/200 m sprint doubles at the 1992 Australian National Championships and won selection in the Olympic team, where she made the semi-finals of the 200m.
In 1997, defending her World Indoor crown, Gainsford was disqualified for running out of her lane in the semi-final of the 200 m. Later in the year, she made up for that disappointment with a new Australian record of 22.23 seconds. Soon after, Gainsford-Taylor reached her first individual outdoor final at the Athens World Championships, placing 7th in the 200 m final.
The latter part of her career was hampered by injury. Running with knee problems, she famously broke down metres before the finish when in first place during the 200 m race at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
During her career, she won a total of thirteen individual open titles – two at 100 yards, six at 100 metres and five over 200 metres.
Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (second from the right) at Olympic Games in 2000 in Sydney.
At her third Olympic Games at Sydney 2000 she made the final of the 200 m sprint, placing 6th, and assisted the Australian 4 x 400 m relay team to a fifth-place finish and a new national record.
Still holding Australian records at 100 m and 200 m, and sharing in 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m relay records, Gainsford-Taylor retired in 2002.
Family life
Gainsford-Taylor is married to Mark Taylor and the couple have two children, Nicholas and Gabriella. In 2015, Gabriella became the fastest 10-year-old girl in the country over 100 metres (330 ft) and 200 metres (660 ft).
Post career
Gainsford-Taylor now works with Little Athletics New South Wales visiting schools.[2] She also provides expert commentary for Australian TV channel One during their coverage of the Australian Athletics Tour.
She is a fan of National Rugby League team the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and is a former board member of the club. She is also a member of the "Eagle Angels", a high-profile group of women who excel in their chosen fields and all with a passion for the Sea Eagles. Other members include comedian, author and radio personality Wendy Harmer, World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley, newsreader Tracey Spicer, and swimmer Brooke Hanson.
In 2017 Gainsford-Taylor was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to athletics as a sprinter, at the national and international level, and as a role model for young athletes.[3]
^. sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
^Dagwell, Todd (2 September 2008). "Little athletes called". News Limited. Penrith Press. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
^(PDF). 2017 Australia Day Honours List. Office of the Governor-General of Australia. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
March 03, 2023
melinda, gainsford, taylor, born, october, 1971, narromine, south, wales, retired, australian, athlete, specialised, sprint, events, 2000personal, informationborn, 1971, october, 1971, narromine, south, wales, australiaheight172, weight67, sportcountryaustrali. Melinda Gainsford Taylor AM born 1 October 1971 in Narromine New South Wales is a retired Australian athlete who specialised in sprint events Melinda Gainsford TaylorAMMelinda Gainsford Taylor in 2000Personal informationBorn 1971 10 01 1 October 1971 age 51 1 Narromine New South Wales AustraliaHeight172 cm 5 ft 8 in Weight67 kg 10 st 8 lb SportCountryAustraliaSportTrack and fieldEvent s Women s 100m amp 200m4 x 100m amp 400m relaysMedal record Women s AthleticsRepresenting AustraliaWorld Championships1995 Gothenburg 4 x 400 m relayWorld Indoor Championships1995 Barcelona 200 m1993 Toronto 200 mCommonwealth Games1994 Victoria 4 x 100 m relay1994 Victoria 200 mUpdated on 9 February 2014 In 1995 Gainsford Taylor won the World Indoor championship over 200 m During her career she also won international medals at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games She is the cousin of Australian Olympic backstroke swimmer Josh Watson who won silver in the Men s 4 100 metre medley relay at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 Contents 1 Junior career 2 Senior career 3 Family life 4 Post career 5 Statistics 6 National records 7 References 8 NotesJunior career EditIn 1989 she won the first of three consecutive Australian Junior 100 m titles also winning the Junior 200 m championships in 1989 and 1991 At the 1990 World Junior Championships Gainsford reached the semi finals of both the 100 and 200 metres sprints and assisted the Australian 4 x 100 metres relay team to a new national junior record of 45 01 seconds Senior career EditAlthough Gainsford Taylor became a world champion in 1995 her senior career really began when she won the first of five 100m 200 m sprint doubles at the 1992 Australian National Championships and won selection in the Olympic team where she made the semi finals of the 200m In 1993 she won a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships but later in the season broke down in the 100 m semi finals of the 1993 World Championships in Athletics During 1994 Gainsford Taylor won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games behind her arch rival Cathy Freeman and set an Australian record for 100 m of 11 12 A year later she won the 200 m at the 1995 World Indoor Championships in Athletics and took home a bronze medal from the 1995 World Championships in Athletics as part of the Australian 4 x 400 m relay team In 1997 defending her World Indoor crown Gainsford was disqualified for running out of her lane in the semi final of the 200 m Later in the year she made up for that disappointment with a new Australian record of 22 23 seconds Soon after Gainsford Taylor reached her first individual outdoor final at the Athens World Championships placing 7th in the 200 m final The latter part of her career was hampered by injury Running with knee problems she famously broke down metres before the finish when in first place during the 200 m race at the 1998 Commonwealth Games During her career she won a total of thirteen individual open titles two at 100 yards six at 100 metres and five over 200 metres Melinda Gainsford Taylor second from the right at Olympic Games in 2000 in Sydney At her third Olympic Games at Sydney 2000 she made the final of the 200 m sprint placing 6th and assisted the Australian 4 x 400 m relay team to a fifth place finish and a new national record Still holding Australian records at 100 m and 200 m and sharing in 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m relay records Gainsford Taylor retired in 2002 Family life EditGainsford Taylor is married to Mark Taylor and the couple have two children Nicholas and Gabriella In 2015 Gabriella became the fastest 10 year old girl in the country over 100 metres 330 ft and 200 metres 660 ft Post career EditGainsford Taylor now works with Little Athletics New South Wales visiting schools 2 She also provides expert commentary for Australian TV channel One during their coverage of the Australian Athletics Tour She is a fan of National Rugby League team the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and is a former board member of the club She is also a member of the Eagle Angels a high profile group of women who excel in their chosen fields and all with a passion for the Sea Eagles Other members include comedian author and radio personality Wendy Harmer World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley newsreader Tracey Spicer and swimmer Brooke Hanson In 2017 Gainsford Taylor was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to athletics as a sprinter at the national and international level and as a role model for young athletes 3 Statistics EditPersonal Bests outdoor Event Time Wind City Date100 Yards 10 4 NWI Adelaide 11 Dec 94100 Metres 11 12 1 9 Sestriere 31 Jul 94200 Metres 22 23 0 8 Stuttgart 13 Jul 97400 Metres 51 73 Brisbane 22 Jul 00Personal Bests indoor Event Time City Date60 Metres 7 36 Toronto Mar 93200 Metres 22 64 Barcelona 10 Mar 95National records EditOutdoor Event Time City Date100 Metres 11 12 Sestriere 31 Jul 94200 Metres 22 32 Hobart 26 Feb 9422 23 Stuttgart 13 Jul 97Relays Event Time City Date Team4x100 Metres relay 42 99 Pietersburg 18 Mar 00 Rachael Massey Suzanne Broadrick Jodi Lambert4x400 Metres relay 3 23 81 Sydney 30 Sep 00 Nova Peris Tamsyn Lewis Cathy FreemanIndoor Event Time City Date200 Metres 23 16 Toronto Mar 93200 Metres 22 83 Toronto Mar 93200 Metres 22 73 Toronto Mar 93200 Metres 22 64 Barcelona 11 Mar 95200 Metres 22 64 Barcelona 11 Mar 95References EditAthletics Australia Profile Melinda Gainsford Taylor at World Athletics Melinda Gainsford Taylor discusses her kidsNotes Edit Melinda Gainsford Taylor sports reference com Sports Reference LLC Archived from the original on 18 April 2020 Retrieved 9 February 2014 Dagwell Todd 2 September 2008 Little athletes called News Limited Penrith Press Retrieved 7 September 2008 Member AM in the General Division of the Order of Australia A L PDF 2017 Australia Day Honours List Office of the Governor General of Australia 26 January 2017 Archived from the original PDF on 21 March 2019 Retrieved 26 January 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melinda Gainsford Taylor amp oldid 1140463238, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
