Melissa was a medalist for the 200m backstroke at the FINA World Short Course Championships in 2004 and fourth in same distance this year in Manchester. She was a silver medalist at the World University Games in 2007, a finalist at the Manchester Commonwealth Games and part of the bronze medal winning women’s 4x200m freestyle relay at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. She broke her own NZ record over 200m backstroke at the Olympic trials and semifinalist at the world championships last year.