Australian Cyclist Rohan Dennis Charged in Death of Olympian Wife Melissa Hoskins

Jan 04, 11:00 AM

In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the Australian sporting community, former world champion and two-time Olympian cyclist Melissa Hoskins, 32, lost her life after being struck by a car in Adelaide. Following the announcement of her death by the Australian Olympic Committee, it was soon reported that her husband, Rohan Dennis, 33, a former Olympian and world champion himself, has been arrested and charged in relation to the incident.
 
 Hoskins, who represented Australia in the team pursuit event at both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, was involved in the fatal accident on Saturday. She was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.
 
 According to the South Australia Police, a 33-year-old man, known to the victim, was arrested following the crash that occurred in the Adelaide suburb of Medindie after 8 p.m. on Saturday. He has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care, and endangering life. The police statement did not disclose the identities of the individuals involved, but various media outlets have widely reported them as Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins.
 
 The police report further reveals that the woman suffered serious injuries and subsequently passed away in the hospital, marking the 114th life lost on South Australian roads this year, compared to 71 at the same time last year. The driver has been bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 13 March.
 
 A spokesperson for the South Australia Police declined to confirm the identities involved, stating, "We are unable to confirm identities in SA." Additionally, a contact listed on Rohan Dennis' website has yet to respond to inquiries for comment.
 
 The couple, who tied the knot in 2018, had retired from their cycling careers and were parents to two children, as depicted in Dennis' Instagram account. His last post on Christmas featured a family photo in front of a decorated tree, captioned, "Merry Christmas from our family to yours."
 
 Melissa Hoskins had achieved considerable success in her cycling career, with a notable highlight being her team pursuit gold medal at the 2015 world championships in France. Her contribution to the sport extended beyond her competitive years, as AusCyling chief executive Marne Fechner stated, "Melissa described her team pursuit gold medal at the 2015 world championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us, the highlight was just having her around. Although she retired in 2017, her presence as an alumnus of the sport has been felt and appreciated by many in the cycling and riding community."
 
 As the investigation into this tragic incident unfolds, the Australian sporting world mourns the loss of a talented athlete and extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Melissa Hoskins, while her husband, Rohan Dennis, faces legal proceedings related to the charges brought against him.

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