Sprinter Melinda Gainsford-Taylor grew up in the small country town of Narromine, in Central Western NSW. She started sprinting at the age of nine where she was discovered by coach, Jackie Byrnes, who would go on to coach her for over two decades.
Gainsford Taylor made her Olympic debut at Barcelona 1992, competing in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Four years later she would contest the same events in Atlanta and qualify for her first Olympic semi-final in the 200m.
Sydney 2000 was Gainsford Taylor's third and final Olympic Games, but the first time she made an individual Olympic final – less than a year after she almost retired – placing 6th in the women’s 200m.
On the My Sydney 2000 podcast, presented by Swisse, she relieves the moment she competed in the 200m final in front of thousands of screaming home fans, how it felt to watch her teammate and friend Cathy Freeman carry the weight of a nation to Olympic gold, and the party of an Olympic Games in her backyard.
As a coach herself, she also shares her advice for up and coming athletes.
Listen to more #MySydney2000 podcast episodes HERE
