Cycling Community Mourns the Loss of Olympic Champion’s Life Cut Short

(L-R) Annette Edmondson, Melissa Hoskins and Amy Cure of Australia after the Womens 10km Scratch finals during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2014. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Two-time Olympian and former world champion cyclist Melissa Hoskins is being remembered as a popular and talented competitor as Australian cycling reels from her death.

Olympic gold medallist Anna Meares paid tribute to Ms. Hoskins, while AusCycling released a statement.

The 32-year-old mother of two died in hospital after she was struck by a ute on the night of Dec. 30 in Adelaide’s inner north.

Melissa Hoskins of Australia poses with her medal after finishing second in the Women's Scratch race at the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne, Australia on April 6, 2012. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Multiple media outlets report the 33-year-old man arrested by police and charged over Ms. Hoskins’ death is her husband Rohan Dennis, an Olympic cycling medallist and former world champion who retired from competition in 2023.

He is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care, and endangering life.

He has been bailed to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.

Ms. Hoskins, who used her married name Melissa Dennis on Facebook, competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics on the track in the team pursuit and was in the squad that won the 2015 world title in the event.

Australia was one of the gold medal contenders at the 2016 Rio Games but a training crash days before qualifying cruelled their chances.

Ms. Hoskins was among those injured in the pile-up and after riding in the qualifying round, was forced to sit out the rest of the event as Australia finished fifth.

She and Ms. Meares were members of the track cycling team at the London and Rio Games.

“I have a very heavy heart. My thoughts are with their children, family, and fellow friends. This is a very difficult and tragic time. RIP @MelissaMHoskins”, Ms. Meares posted on X.

AusCycling chief executive Marne Fechner spoke of the sport’s shock and sorrow.

‘The Highlight was Just Having Her Around’

“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,” Ms. Fechner said.

“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.”

Ms. Hoskins also competed on the road for several years with Australian team GreenEDGE.

Rohan Dennis won two world titles in the road time trial, 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 at the Tour de France by winning the opening time trial in 2015, setting a race record for his average speed.

Gold medal winner Rohan Dennis of Australia poses with his medal after the men's cycling individual time trials at the Commonwealth Games in West Park, Wolverhampton, England, on Aug. 4, 2022. Rui Vieira/AP Photo

Mr. Dennis was named Australian Cyclist of the Year in 2015 and 2018 and won the 2015 Tour Down Under in his home city of Adelaide.

After his retirement, the Dennis family relocated to Adelaide from Europe.

Ms. Hoskins and Mr. Dennis were this month scheduled to take part in an event at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide.

“We are devastated by the news of Melissa Hoskins’s death. It’s an extremely tragic situation which has seen the loss of a young mum and champion cyclist,” organisers said in a statement.

“Given the circumstances, Rohan Dennis will no longer be participating.”