Prosecutors have confirmed charges against former Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis in the death of his wife and fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins last year.
Police allege Dennis, 34, recklessly struck the 32-year-old mother-of-two while driving a utility vehicle outside her home in Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north, on December 30.
Ms Hoskins was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but died that same night.
At a charging hearing in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, prosecutor Talia Costi confirmed police will proceed with charges against Dennis for causing death by dangerous driving and driving without due care.
Dennis, dressed in a smart business suit, remained silent throughout the proceedings and declined to make any comments as he walked out of the courtroom and into a waiting car.
Ms Hoskins was buried in her hometown of Perth and a public memorial service was held in Adelaide in February, on what would have been the champion cyclist’s 33rd birthday.
Dennis has been out on bail since his arrest.
Charges have been confirmed against Rohan Dennis (pictured) over the death of his wife.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
He will appear in court again on October 30 to answer the charges.
If convicted, the champion cyclist faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Dennis’s turnaround in fortunes has been swift and surprising.
Just three years ago, she stood on the podium in Tokyo and celebrated her place in sporting history as an individual Olympic medalist.
She first came to prominence at the 2012 London Olympics, taking a silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit race on the track cycle.
At Brazil 2016, she finished fifth in the individual time trial, but perhaps her greatest achievement is her bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on July 28, 2021.
In memorable scenes at the Fuji International Speedway, he claimed the medal with a time of 56:08.09.
Dennis and Mrs. Hoskins were world-class athletes. Photo: Instagram
Dennis shows off his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
At the time, Dennis said he had done “everything possible” to take home the gold.
“Obviously it would have been great to get gold, but I did everything I could to be in this position and I was beaten by two better guys that day, so I can be proud of everything that I and the team have achieved,” he said.
In 2017, he became engaged to Ms. Hoskins, a fellow Olympian.
Ms Hoskins competed in track cycling at the London and Rio Olympic Games.
In London she came close to winning a medal, finishing fourth in the 3000m team pursuit category.
In Rio, she finished fifth in the 4000m team pursuit.
In 2018, the couple tied the knot and moved into a tree-lined home in Adelaide’s upmarket Medindie neighbourhood with their two children.
In 2022, Dennis won a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom.
In 2023, she retired from cycling and thanked Ms Hoskins for her support in a heartfelt social media post.
“Thank you Melissa Dennis for supporting me throughout my entire professional career, while raising two of the best children I could ask for,” she said.
Melissa’s father, Peter, mother, Amanda, and sister, Jessica, released a statement on January 2 expressing their grief over her death.
Friends and family attend a memorial service for Ms Hoskins at Adelaide Town Hall in February.
“Words cannot convey our grief, sadness and the tragic circumstances of Melissa’s passing,” Hoskins wrote on behalf of the family.
‘Myself, Amanda, Jess and our families are completely devastated and still struggling to process what has happened.
‘Not only have we lost a daughter and a sister, her children have lost their mother, a free spirit, a donor with a big heart, patience and enthusiasm for life.
‘She was the rock of her life and ours and we must honour her memory so that they can grow up knowing who she was, what she stood for and what she gave to all whose lives she touched.
“The outpouring of grief and support has overwhelmed us. In her short life, Melissa has had many positive touchpoints in the world and around the world.”
Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to the world-class cyclist at a public service in Adelaide on February 24.
