Everything we know about Melissa Hoskins’ death on the day of her Adelaide memorial
As Adelaide celebrates the life of Olympian Melissa Hoskins today, we look back at the fateful night on a tree-lined Medindie street that sent shockwaves across the country.
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It’s the chilling tragedy that unfolded on a quiet suburban street, shaking the nation to its core as 2023 came to a close.
Now, hundreds of mourners have gathered to celebrate the life of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins in a public memorial at Adelaide Town Hall this afternoon, two months after she was struck and killed by a ute allegedly driven by her husband.
Hoskins’ parents Peter and Amanda, as well as sister Jess, have flown in from Perth for the memorial, with her father expected to speak.
The cyclist’s two young children will attend with father and husband of the victim Rohan Dennis, who will not participate in the service.
It comes after Dennis made an unexpected appearance at her funeral in Perth last month.
Here’s everything we know about how Hoskins life was cut short:
Former golden couple of cycling
Looking in, it would appear they had it all.
Both former Olympians and gold medallists who went from trackside sweethearts to the power couple of the pro-cycling world.
Melissa Hoskins and Rohan Dennis bonded over their mutual love of cycling, a sporting couple catapulted into the high-life of international success.
And at home, at their $2.45m property in the tree-lined suburb of Medindie, family life focused on their two young children.
It’s a life many would have exchanged in a heartbeat.
But on December 30, the day before New Year’s Eve, Hoskins would die at just 32 years old and her 33-year-old husband would be arrested.
Who are Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins?
Hailing from Perth in Western Australia, Melissa Hoskins showed signs of being a promising sportswoman from an early age.
She started competitive cycling at just 16, initially competing and largely winning gruelling endurance events.
In 2012, she headed to the London Olympics, where another rising star in the cycling world would compete.
Adelaide-born Dennis, just 22 at the time, was already a gold medallist, and had helped Australia to gold at the 2011 London World Cup.
The couple might have missed Olympic gold that year, with Dennis and his team landing silver and Hoskins’ team finishing at fourth place behind Canada, but their days spent together as Team Australia were the foundations of a relationship that would span over 12 years.
In the years that followed, the couple would travel the world competing, living in Spain and Andorra.
In May 2017, Hoskins announced the couple’s engagement as well as her retirement from competition, with the pair marrying in February 2018.
And life looked like it was about to settle in South Australia for the couple, with them moving into their multimillion-dollar property in Adelaide with their two kids just before Christmas.
It came after Dennis, a dual world champion, called time on his 16-year cycling career last year, announcing the news via an Instagram post where he thanked his wife.
What happened on the night of December 30 2023?
“All I heard was just one long siren. There was no smash bang or anything like that, just the siren,” said Andrew Boaucaut, a neighbour.
For many of the residents of Avenel Gardens Road in Medindie, this was the first indicator that something was wrong.
Just after 8pm, emergency services rushed to the affluent street, with witnesses stating that a woman had been hit by a car.
The woman was 32-year-old Hoskins. She was immediately rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries but would later die.
It’s the next twist that left the nation shocked.
Detectives and Major Crash officers investigated the scene and soon arrested Dennis, charging him with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.
South Australian Police allege Dennis was behind the wheel of the ute at the time and he has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
The Advertiser understands police will allege Hoskins jumped onto the bonnet of the family’s grey 2022 Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 ute and then grabbed at a door handle.
Officers will allege Dennis continued to drive the 4WD until she fell to the ground.
Detectives believe she may have been dragged some distance along the street, which is located in one of the state’s most expensive suburbs in Adelaide’s inner north.
It is believed some of the incident was caught on neighbours’ security cameras.
What has the reaction been since Melissa Hoskins’ death?
Since December 30, tributes have been shared by the many people who have spent time with Hoskins.
Three-time world champion on the track Annette Edmondson posted a lengthy tribute on her Instagram, after describing her friend as a “beautiful soul” on Monday.
“I still can’t comprehend that the world has lost one of its shining stars this weekend,” she posted.
“A fun, loving, hilarious person, who was so talented in so many areas. A force to be reckoned with, she took the track and road cycling world by storm, before pursuing her next dream, starting a family and becoming the ultimate Mum.”
Fellow team member Amy Cure said Hoskins would be forever missed. “My rivalry, my teammate, writing our names in world record books, world championship victories, Olympic Games upsets, to celebrating retirements. You were there for the entirety of my career,” she posted on Instagram.
Former teammate in road cycling Valentina Scandolara said there were “no words” to describe what had happened.
“There are simply no words for a tragedy of this magnitude,” she posted.
“Mel was an amazing, fun, loyal, strong, wonderful woman, athlete, teammate, champion.
“As long as we’ll remember and celebrate her, she’ll somehow still be, and her legacy will live on.”
These are just some of many heartfelt tributes.
What has Melissa Hoskins’ family said?
Melissa’s parents, Peter and Amanda, and sister, Jess, released a statement in January stating that words could not convey their grief and sadness.
“Myself, Amanda, Jess and families, are utterly devastated and still struggling to process what has happened,” they said.
“Not only have we lost a daughter and sister, her children have lost their mum, a freewheeling spirit, a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life.
“She was the rock of their life and ours and we need to honour her memory so they can grow up knowing who she was, what she stood for and what she gave to everyone whose life she touched.
“The outpouring of sadness and support has overwhelmed us. In her short life Melissa has had so many positive touch points in and around the world.
“The funeral will be held in Perth, her hometown, with a memorial service in Adelaide after the Tour Down Under.
“We now need to deal with our grief privately and will be making no further comments. We ask that media please respect our privacy and that of Melissa’s children.”
What has Rohan Dennis said?
Dennis, a former Tour de France star, broke his silence in the days after his wife’s death.
The father-of-two was seen speaking on his mobile phone on January 3 while standing in the backyard of the family home.
Later that afternoon, Dennis pleaded for privacy and time for his two children to grieve for their mother.
Saying nothing, Dennis marched quickly from the house, wearing white shorts and a blue T-shirt and carrying a packed suitcase
Just an hour earlier he had sent two friends out to make an impassioned plea on his behalf.
“They need privacy and they need to grieve,” a Spanish friend said. “This is a terrible time for us.”
The Advertiser’s reporters could hear the cries of the children from the home that same day.
Dennis was granted bail after being charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.
He is to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court again in March.
He has not entered any pleas to these charges.
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