Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis breaks his silence on his wife’s horror death – as the couple’s two children cry
Champion Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has broken his silence and emerged from his Adelaide home for the first time since being charged over the death of his Olympian wife Melissa Hoskins.
Before leaving the $2.45 million Medindie mansion on Tuesday afternoon, Dennis pleaded for privacy and time for his two children to mourn their mother.
Hoskins was killed Saturday evening after she was struck near the couple’s home by a police officer who police said was driven by her husband.
Dennis, 33, was arrested on Sunday and charged in the death of his 32-year-old wife.
Champion cyclist Rohan Dennis has broken his silence and emerged from his Adelaide home for the first time since being charged over the death of his wife Melissa Hoskins. He is pictured Tuesday afternoon
Dressed in white shorts and a blue T-shirt and carrying a packed bag, Dennis quickly walked out of the house and said nothing.
But an hour earlier he had sent two friends to make an impassioned plea on his behalf.
The two friends, one Spaniard and the other Australian, begged the media not to film his children.
“They need privacy and they need to grieve,” the Spanish friend said. “This is a terrible time for us.”
Dennis’ children could be heard laughing and crying before being driven out of the house by the two friends.
The world cycling champion was collected in a separate car some time later, pleading not to follow his vehicle.
Friends said Hoskins and Dennis had been preparing for the next phase of their lives after retiring from professional sport and considering buying a vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.
Hoskins died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital after she was hit by the couple’s $70,000 Volkswagen Amarok Highline car on Avenel Gardens Road, Medindie.
Before leaving the $2.45 million Medindie mansion just after 2pm on Tuesday, Dennis pleaded through two friends for privacy and time for his two children to mourn their mother.
The 32-year-old is said to have jumped onto the hood of the Amarok and grabbed a door handle before the vehicle was driven away and fell to the ground.
It is also alleged that Hoskins may have been dragged by the vehicle, with the incident captured on neighbours’ security cameras.
Both Hoskins and Dennis competed for Australia in the Olympics and had each won events at the World Cycling Championships.
Some teenage neighbors attempted to give first aid to Hoskins before paramedics arrived and she was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she later died.
Dennis has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life. He was released on bail and reappeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.
A few days earlier, the couple shared a family photo in front of a Christmas tree.
Dennis was smiling from ear to ear in the photo shared to Instagram as he posed with Hoskins and their two young children.
“Merry Christmas from our family to yours,” he wrote in the caption.
Champion cyclist Rohan Dennis is pictured on Tuesday, two days after he was charged with murdering his wife outside their home in Adelaide’s inner west
Dennis is accused of being behind the wheel of the car that hit the mother of two outside their $2.45 million home in Adelaide’s inner west (above)
Since then, several social media posts have surfaced in which Dennis bragged about his wife and their two children.
Just two weeks ago, Dennis posted a photo of himself and his wife laughing in a car on the way to a wedding.
“I finally did it, I finally made @melissmdennis lose the plot #lifegoalachieved,” the caption read.
When a friend replied “it was only a matter of time,” Dennis responded with laughing emojis: “She was a lot harder to crack than I thought.”
Hoskins reportedly jumped onto the hood of the Amarok and grabbed a door handle before the vehicle was driven away and she fell to the ground. Yellow paint marks the road at the location
Police allege Hoskins jumped on the hood of the car and grabbed the door handle before the vehicle sped away and she fell to the ground
A host of sporting organizations and fellow cyclists have paid tribute following Hoskins’ tragic death.
Among them is the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), which Hoskins represented at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
“The AOC has expressed its utmost sadness at the loss of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins following the tragic events in Adelaide,” reads a message on X.
“Our condolences go out to Melissa’s family, friends and the cycling community at this extremely difficult time.”
Marne Fechner, CEO of AusCycling, the national governing body for the sport in Australia, labeled Hoskins’ death a “tragic incident”.
“Melissa, a mother, daughter and wife, was also a champion cyclist who thrilled and inspired us with her outstanding skills on the track and on the road,” Ms Fechner said in a statement.
Dennis (left) has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, careless driving and endangering life
‘Melissa started her cycling career at the age of 16, and by the time she retired at the age of 25, she had shown the world that she was an athlete of rare talent.
‘Melissa described her team pursuit gold medal at the 2015 UCI Track World Championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us the highlight was just being there.’
Retired track cyclist Anna Meares, who has also been named chef de mission of the Australian Olympic team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, posted a message of condolence on her social media channels.
“I have a very heavy heart,” Meares said in a message to X.
‘My thoughts are with their children, family and friends.
‘This is a very difficult and tragic time. REST IN PEACE’
Hoskins’ former team, GreenEDGE, which has since been renamed Jayco-AlUla, similarly expressed sadness at the news.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends and the entire cycling community at this deeply saddened time,” a statement from the team said.
“She will never be forgotten.”
Hoskins, originally from Perth, married Dennis in 2018. The couple has two children.
In addition to her Olympic achievements, Hoskins won gold in the women’s team pursuit at the 2015 world championships. She retired from professional cycling in 2017.
Dennis was a podium finisher at the 2013 and 2020 Olympic Games, a two-time world champion and a stage winner in the 2015 Tour de France.
He only retired from professional cycling at the end of 2023.