He could have been on the boat in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony but instead Aussie cyclist Rohan Dennis is facing allegations of killing his wife
Almost exactly three years ago, cycling champion Rohan Dennis stood on a podium in Tokyo and celebrated his place in sporting history as an individual Olympic medalist by winning bronze in the time trial.
His fall from fame and recognition was swift and shocking.
As Paris opens and the event that made his name gets underway, Dennis is at home in Adelaide preparing for his next trial. He is accused of murdering his wife, fellow cyclist and Olympic athlete Melissa Hoskins.
Photos taken of Mr Dennis this week show the alleged killer using his bike to take the victims to school. He has swapped his speed suit for trousers and a padded jacket.
His bike was equipped with a capsule saddle and a fluorescent yellow buggy, which was a big difference from the streamlined look he had on the velodrome.
Former Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis outside his home in Adelaide on Friday morning
THE DREAM
Mr Dennis is a three-time Olympic competitor and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
He first came to prominence at the 2012 London Olympics, where he won a silver medal in the 4000 metres team pursuit on the track.
In Brazil in 2016 he finished fifth in the individual time trial, but his greatest achievement may be the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo on July 28, 2021.
Dennis finished on the podium at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after COVID delayed the Games
Dennis could have been part of the Australian cycling team at the Olympic Games in Paris
In memorable scenes at the Fuji International Speedway he took the medal with a time of 56:08.09.
Mr Dennis said at the time that he had done ‘everything possible’ to take home the gold.
“It would have been great to win gold of course, but I did everything I could to get to this position and I just got beaten that day by two better guys, so I can be proud of everything me and the team achieved,” he said.
In 2017, he became engaged to Ms Hoskins, a fellow Olympian.
Mrs Hoskins competed in the London and Rio Olympics in track cycling.
Dennis won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games before retiring from the sport in 2023
She narrowly missed out on a medal in London, finishing fourth in the 3000m team pursuit category.
In Rio she finished fifth in the 4000m team pursuit.
In 2018, the couple married and are said to be settling into a leafy home in Adelaide’s upmarket suburb of Medindie with their two children.
In 2022, Mr. Dennis won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
In 2023, he retired from cycling and thanked Ms Hoskins for her support in a heartfelt message on social media.
“Thank you Melissa Dennis for supporting me throughout my entire professional career while raising two of the best children I could ever ask for,” he said.
DECEMBER 30, 2023
The couple’s dream life suddenly collapsed on the evening of December 30, 2023.
Emergency services arrived at the couple’s luxury home in Adelaide’s north just after 8pm.
South Australian police have arrested and charged Mr Dennis with the death of Ms Hoskins, who allegedly struck her while driving a pick-up truck at around 8pm.
Ms Hoskins, 32, was seriously injured in the crash and paramedics took her to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment. She died in hospital.
Police investigate Rohan Dennis’ car after he hit and killed his wife Melissa
“Officers from Major Crash attended the scene, along with detectives from Eastern District CIB, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said the next day.
‘Following an investigation, a 33-year-old man from Medindie was arrested and charged.’
MEMORIES OF MELISSA
Melissa’s father Peter, mother Amanda and sister Jessica expressed their sadness over the terrible news in a statement on January 2.
“Words cannot express our sorrow, sadness and the tragic circumstances of Melissa’s passing,” Peter wrote on behalf of the family.
‘Amanda, Jess, my family and I are devastated and still struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
‘Not only have we lost a daughter and a sister, her children have also lost their mother, a free spirit, a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life.
“She was the rock in their lives and ours and we need to honor her memory so they can grow up knowing who she was, what she stood for, and what she gave to everyone she touched in her life.
“The outpouring of grief and support has been overwhelming. In her short life, Melissa has had so many positive moments of contact in and around the world.”
Hundreds of people gathered in Adelaide on February 24 to say goodbye to the world-class cyclist.
Tributes continue to pour in for Hoskins, who retired during a public service in February
“While we are still grieving, today we celebrate Melissa, we celebrate her love of life. The friendships she treasured, the achievements and her triumphs,” Mr. Hoskins said.
The commemoration took place on Mrs. Hoskins’ 33rd birthday.
Jessica thought about the fact that it would be the first birthday in a long time that Melissa would spend at home.
“She missed so many birthdays, Christmases, weddings, everything. This year we were on a mission to change that,” she said.
The couple wanted to spend the weekend on a ‘sisters-only’ trip to the Hunter Valley, which Melissa had booked as a surprise a few months earlier.
Friends and family attend Melissa’s memorial service at Adelaide Town Hall
Jessica said it was “so hard” to talk about her sister as she reflected on their close bond.
“I know it will get easier with time. It’s still surreal and there’s still so much sadness,” she said.
‘What happened wasn’t fair. She had so much left to give.
“We all have our own wonderful memories of Mel. So talk about her. Share those wonderful stories with your family, your friends, your children.”
Mr. Dennis attended the memorial with the couple’s two children, but did not speak during the service. He was photographed embracing guests before the ceremony began.
FROM THE STAGE TO THE COURT
Mr Dennis first appeared in court on March 13.
He was wearing a dark blue suit and was met outside the Adelaide magistrates court by a group of reporters.
He refused to speak as he entered and left the courtroom, remaining silent in the dock throughout the hearing before Judge Simon Smart.
The Public Prosecution Service requested seven months to determine the final charges against the Olympian. According to the Public Prosecution Service, they needed six months to complete the extensive reconstruction report of the crash and then another four weeks to let the Director of the Public Prosecution Service determine the charges.
Police have currently charged Mr Dennis with causing death by dangerous driving.
He did not file a request.
Dennis will appear in court on August 6, just a few days after the cycling events in Paris end.
Mr Smart expressed surprise at the time required by the Public Prosecution Service, but the Public Prosecution Service made it clear that the time requested would be counted back to the date of the accident and not from the day of the hearing.
The court heard that day that work had begun to reconstruct what happened outside the couple’s home that night.
Mr Dennis’s defence did not object to the timeline.
Mr Dennis remains free on bail and Mr Smart agreed at the hearing to vary his reporting conditions.
Mr. Dennis left the field and walked quickly through the crowd to a black car.
He will appear in court on August 6, just a few days after the cycling events in Paris end.