What happened to Melissa Hoskins? Olympian’s car accident explored as husband and cyclist Rohan Dennis sentenced over death

Melissa Hoskins, who was a world champion cyclist as well as an Olympian for Australia, died in a tragic accident when she was struck by a car at the hands of her husband, professional cyclist Rohan Dennis. This incident occurred outside of their house in Adelaide on the 30th of December 2023.

Melissa, aged 32, was transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but sadly passed due to her injuries the following day. On 14th May 2025, Rohan Dennis was charged for the case and was accused of pleading guilty to an aggravated charge of endangerment of Hoskins’s life.

Dennis ended up receiving a suspended sentence. During the court hearing, it was highlighted that Hoskins was clutching the vehicle during a domestic quarrel, and her partner drove forward, resulting in her sustaining life-threatening injuries. It was also revealed that the couple’s children were, too, present in the house during the eruption.

A champion’s life cut short

Melissa Hoskins had an illustrious career in track cycling, particularly for winning gold in the team pursuit at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and winning silver in the scratch race at the World Championships in 2012. She represented Australia at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, helping the team to finish in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Alongside her track achievements, Hoskins also excelled in road racing, winning bronze in the team time trial at the Road World Championships in three straight years from 2012 to 2014 and winning the Tour of Chongming Island in 2012. After marrying Rohan Dennis, a two-time time trial world champion, she retired in 2017 to focus on family life.

Courtroom details and family reactions

Throughout the legal proceedings, the prosecutors informed the court that Dennis had driven faster while Hoskins was holding onto the car, not realizing she was still in contact with the vehicle. Although the court did not see that his behavior directly led to her death, they still decided that his violence during the fight endangered her life.

In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Ian Press made the following solemn statement:

“This was not an act of cruelty but a failure to perceive obvious danger. The result is devastating.”

Hoskins’ family spoke of their feelings through the victim impact statements. Her father, Peter Hoskins, spoke of the horror of seeing his daughter in the hospital mortuary:

“That image will haunt me forever. No parent should have to endure it.” - The Guardian

Her mother, Amanda Hoskins, expressed sorrow at the situation:

“This was a tragic accident. But Rohan’s temper is dangerous—it needs addressing.”

Sister Jessica Locke conveyed her anger at Dennis’s lack of regret:

“He paints himself as the victim. There’s no accountability—only grief from us.” -The Guardian

The family also pointed out their fear of being estranged from Melissa’s children, who are now Dennis’s responsibility.

Dennis’s legal team, which is headed by Jane Abbey KC, presented him as a deeply sorrowed husband who was keeping the situation under control for his children’s sake:

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“He is not a man without feeling. In private, he mourns deeply.”

The sudden occurrence has led to a lack of morale in the Australian cycling community. While most people will remember Hoskins as an athlete, one of the few, and a friend, sister, wife, and mother she was.

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