Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (born 1 October 1971 in Narromine, New South Wales) is a retired Australian athlete, who specialised in sprint events.
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.