Olympic teammates remember hilarious friend, adoring mother

Melissa Hoskins has been remembered as someone ‘loved by all’, after her husband and former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis was charged over her death.

Rohan Dennis allegedly hit his wife Melissa Hoskins with a ute on Saturday night in Medindie, Adelaide.

Two-time Olympian Melissa Hoskins has been remembered by her former teammates as a hilarious and energetic person and an adoring mother, after her husband and former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis was charged over her death.

Mr Dennis allegedly hit his wife, and the mother of his two young children, with a ute on Saturday night in Medindie, Adelaide.

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

South Australian police will ­allege Ms Hoskins jumped onto the bonnet of the family car and grabbed at the door handle, and that Mr Dennis kept driving until she fell onto the road, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.

She may have been dragged some way, police believe. It is not clear what led up to the incident.

Ms Hoskins retired in 2017 but remained a large part of the cycling community, alongside her husband who retired last year.

Australian track legend Anna Meares said she had a “very heavy heart” after hearing the news of Ms Hoskins death.

The pair were teammates in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Melissa Hoskins, Josie Tomic, Amy Cure, Annette Edmondson of Australia women's track cycling team in 2012. Picture: Dino Panato/Getty Images

“This is a very difficult and tragic time for us all,” she said.

Australian Olympic track cycling teammate Annette Edmondson remembered Ms Hoskins’ “amazing smile” and “infectious laugh”.

“She was just full of energy and absolutely hilarious. She was the most incredible dancer as well if you caught her,” she said. “I had the privilege of riding and racing and training with her for eight years from junior worlds until 2016 at the Rio Olympics and we had some pretty amazing ­moments along the way with a world record and a world title ­together (in 2015).” Ms Hoskins was part of the Australian team that won the 2015 world championship and set a new world record in the event.

“I think that moment standing on the podium sharing that and singing the national anthem was one of the best moments of my life and I will never forget that,” Ms Edmondson said.

Melissa Hoskins, Josephine Tomic and Annette Edmondson of Australia celebrate with their Silver medals after the Women’s Team Pursuit Gold Medal race in 2012. Picture: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

“It is just an absolute tragedy to lose such a beautiful soul who just adored her family and just loved those kids,” she said.

Amy Cure, who was also an Olympic teammate, shared photos she took of her friend in ­December.

“So many memories made with this egg!!!” one of the photos was captioned.

Mr Dennis’s Instagram page, with 117,000 followers, included many happy family and couple snaps, including images from a family trip to the Great Pyramids of Egypt in November.

Rohan Dennis pictured with his wife, Melissa Hoskins and their two children.

Just a week ago, the family of four posed in front of their Christmas tree. “Merry Christmas from our family to yours,” Mr Dennis wrote.

The couple were meant to be the faces of the forthcoming Tour Down Under family ride. TDU organisers confirmed Mr Dennis would “no longer be participating” in the 2024 event.

AusCycling chief executive Marne Fechner said the champion cyclist “thrilled and inspired … with her exquisite skills on the track and road”.

“It was with shock and sorrow that we learned of Melissa ­Hoskins’ tragic death,” she said.

Ms Fechner said AusCycling would “determine an appropriate way to memorialise her and her contribution to our sport in coming days”.

“Melissa began her competitive cycling career at just 16, and by the time she retired at the age of 25 she had shown the world that she was an athlete of rare prowess,” said Ms Fechner

Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins.

“As a member of the Australian Cycling Team she demonstrated elite endurance on the track and earned podium finishes in both team and individual events ­nationally and internationally.”

The worldwide association of female cyclists, CPA Women, said it was “shocked by the news”.

“We send our thoughts to those who love her, starting with her children, and were lucky enough to ride with her during an all too short life. We will miss you Melissa,” the statement read.

Ms Hoskins began cycling in 2006 after she was picked up for kayaking and cycling through talent identification testing at school.

“I chose cycling purely because I’d watched the Tour de France and I had an interest in it,” she said in a 2013 ABC interview.

She told Cycling Australia in 2012 she was “always a bit of a speed demon, and a bit of a wild child”.