Tragic downfall of Aussie Olympic champ charged with killing his wife
On July 28, 2021, champion cyclist Rohan Dennis stood on a podium in Tokyo. Today, he is home in Adelaide, charged with killing his wife.
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Three years ago almost to the day, champion cyclist Rohan Dennis stood on a podium in Tokyo and celebrated his place in sporting history as an individual Olympic medallist, snatching bronze in the time trial.
His fall from stardom and acclaim has been swift and shocking.
As Paris begins and the event that made his name kicks off, Mr Dennis is at his Adelaide home and preparing for his next court appearance, accused of killing his wife, fellow cyclist and Olympian Melissa Hoskins.
Photographs taken of Mr Dennis this week show the alleged killer using his bike for the school run, having traded in his speed suit for suit pants and a puffer jacket.
His bike was equipped with a capsule seat and a fluorescent yellow buggy, a far cry from the sleek look he cut in the velodrome.
THE DREAM
Mr Dennis is a three-time Olympian and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
He first achieved fame at the 2012 London Olympics, nabbing a silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit on the cycling track.
At Brazil in 2016, he finished in fifth place in the individual time trial, but perhaps his crowning achievement is his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on July 28, 2021.
In memorable scenes at the Fuji International Speedway, he clinched the medal with a time of 56:08.09.
Speaking at the time, Mr Dennis said he had done “everything possible” to take home the gold.
“Obviously would’ve been great to get the gold but I’ve done everything possible to be in this position and I was just beaten by two better guys on the day, so can be proud of everything myself and the team have achieved,” he said.
In 2017, he became engaged to Ms Hoskins, a fellow Olympian.
Ms Hoskins competed in the London and Rio Olympics - in track cycling.
She only just missed out on a medal in London, finishing in fourth spot for the 3000m Team Pursuit category.
In Rio, she finished in fifth position for the 4000m Team Pursuit.
In 2018, the pair married, and would settle into a leafy home in Adelaide’s up-market Medindie suburb with their two children.
In 2022, Mr Dennis won a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the UK.
In 2023, he retired from cycling, thanking Ms Hoskins for her support in a heartfelt post to social media.
“Thank you Melissa Dennis for supporting me throughout my entire professional career, all while raising two of the best kids I could ever ask for,” he said.
DECEMBER 30, 2023
The couple’s apparent dream life collapsed suddenly on the night of December 30, 2023.
Emergency services rushed to the couple’s plush home in Adelaide’s inner-north just after 8pm.
South Australian Police arrested and charged Mr Dennis with the death of Ms Hoskins, alleging he struck her about 8pm while driving a ute.
Ms Hoskins, 32, suffered serious injuries in the crash and paramedics took her to Royal Adelaide Hospital for further treatment. She died at the hospital.
“Major Crash officers attended the scene along with detectives from Eastern District CIB to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the police said the following day.
“Following an investigation, a 33-year-old Medindie man has been arrested and charged.”
REMEMBERING MELISSA
Melissa’s father Peter, mother Amanda and sister Jessica released a statement on January 2 expressing their heartache at the horrific news.
“Words cannot convey our grief, sadness and the tragic circumstances of Melissa’s passing,” Peter wrote on behalf of the family.
“Myself, Amanda, Jess and families, are utterly devastated and still struggling to process what has happened.
“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.”
Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell the world-class cyclist at a public service in Adelaide on February 24.
“While we’re still grieving, today is about celebrating Melissa, celebrating her love of life. The friendships she valued, the achievements and her triumphs,” Mr Hoskins said.
The memorial was held on Ms Hoskins’ 33rd birthday.
Jessica reflected on how the day was meant to be the first birthday in a long time that Melissa would spend at home.
“She missed out on so many birthdays, Christmases, weddings, everything. This year we were on a mission to change that,” she said.
The pair intended to spend the weekend on a “sisters only” trip to the Hunter Valley that Melissa had booked as a surprise a few months beforehand.
Jessica said it was “so hard” to speak about her sister while recalling their tight-knit bond.
“I know in time it will get easier. It is still surreal and there’s still so much sadness,” she said.
“What happened was not fair. She had so much left to give.
“We all have our own wonderful memories of Mel. So talk about her. Share those great stories with your family, your friends and your kids.”
Mr Dennis attended the memorial with the couple’s two children, but did not speak during the service. He was photographed hugging guests before the ceremony started.
FROM THE PODIUM TO THE COURTHOUSE
Mr Dennis fronted court for the first time on March 13.
Dressed in a dark navy blue suit, he was met by a scrum of reporters outside Adelaide Magistrates Court.
He declined to say anything as he entered and left the court, standing silently in the dock throughout proceedings before Magistrate Simon Smart.
The prosecution asked for seven months to determine the final charges against the Olympian, arguing they needed six months for the major crash reconstruction report to be completed and then another four weeks for the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine the charges.
At present, the police have charged Mr Dennis with causing death by dangerous driving.
He has not entered a plea.
Mr Smart expressed surprise at the length of time required by the prosecution, but the prosecutor clarified the requested time would be backdated to the date of the crash and not from the day of the hearing.
The court heard that day the work to reconstruct what happened that night outside the couple’s home had begun.
Mr Dennis’ defence counsel did not oppose the timeline.
Mr Dennis remains on bail and Mr Smart also agreed to alter his reporting conditions at the hearing.
Leaving the court, Mr Dennis moved quickly through the scrum and into a black car.
He will next appear in court on August 6, just a couple of days after the cycling events are completed in Paris.
Originally published as Tragic downfall of Aussie Olympic champ charged with killing his wife
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