Former world cycling champion Rohan Dennis has reportedly been charged in connection with the death of his wife, Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins, who died after being struck by a vehicle while riding in Adelaide.
According to Australian media reports, Dennis was sentenced to death for dangerous driving, endangering life and careless driving. He was reportedly released on bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.
Hoskins, 32, competed for Australia at the Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro.
The Australian Olympic Committee released a statement on social media confirmed Hoskins' death.
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AOC has expressed his deepest sadness at the loss of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins following the tragic events in Adelaide.
Our condolences go out to Melissa's family, friends and the cycling community at this extremely difficult time. pic.twitter.com/oh8Z8w2qf8
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) December 31, 2023
“Our condolences go out to Melissa’s family, friends and the cycling community at this extremely difficult time,” the committee said.
Police said emergency responders were called to an address in the Adelaide suburb of Medindie about 8pm on Saturday after reports a woman had been struck by a vehicle. At this point, police said “the driver is known to the woman.”
Police said the woman, later identified as Hoskins, suffered serious injuries and died after being taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Hoskins competed on the track in the team pursuit at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. At the 2016 Games, she was hospitalized after being involved in a high-speed accident at the Olympic Velodrome during training, ABC reported.
Hoskins was also part of the squad that won the world title in the event in 2015.
“Melissa described her gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2015 World Championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us the highlight was simply having her with us,” AusCyling chief executive Marne Fechner said in a statement on Monday.
“Although she retired in 2017, her presence as a graduate of the sport was felt and appreciated by many in the cycling and equestrian community.”
Hoskins also competed in road cycling for several years with the Australian team GreenEDGE.
Gold medalist Rohan Dennis of Australia poses with his medal after the men's individual cycling time trial at the Commonwealth Games in West Park, Wolverhampton, England, August 4, 2022. Rui Vieira / AP
Dennis, 33, won two world road time trial titles as well as silver in the team pursuit at the London Olympics and bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics.
He became the seventh Australian to wear the yellow jersey as race leader in the Tour de France by winning the opening time trial in 2015, setting a race record for average speed.
Dennis, who is retired from cycling, was named Australian Cyclist of the Year in 2015 and 2018 and won the 2015 Tour Down Under in his hometown of Adelaide. Following his retirement and their marriage in 2018, the Dennis family moved from Europe to Adelaide.
Hoskins and Dennis have two children, the BBC reported.
Hoskins and Dennis were due to take part in an event at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide this month.
“We are devastated by the news of Melissa Hoskins’ passing. “It is an extremely tragic situation that has resulted in the loss of a young mother and cycling champion,” Tour Down Under organizers said in a statement on Monday.
Organizers said Dennis would no longer take part in the event.
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