- The 32-year-old mother of two children died on Saturday
- Reportedly suffered an accident in Adelaide
- Husband Rohan Dennis has been charged
Melissa Dennis is being remembered as a popular and talented competitor with a beautiful soul as Australian cycling reflects on her tragic death in Adelaide after an accident on Saturday evening.
Olympic gold medalist Anna Meares paid tribute to Dennis on Monday morning, while AusCycling also issued a statement.
The 32-year-old mother of two died in hospital after being struck in Adelaide's north on Saturday evening.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that the 33-year-old man arrested by police and charged with Dennis' death is her husband Rohan, an Olympic cycling medalist and former world champion who retired from competition in 2023.
He is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, careless driving and endangering life. He was due to appear in court in March.
SA Police have planned a media conference in Adelaide on Monday morning.
Dennis competed as Melissa Hoskins, but used her married name on Facebook.
Olympic gold medalist and current Olympic Chef de Mission Anna Meares has paid tribute to Melissa Hoskins
She competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games on the track in the team pursuit and was part of the team that won the world title in the event in 2015.
That world title made Australia one of the gold medal contenders at the 2016 Rio Games, but a training crash in the days before qualifying ruined their chances.
Hoskins was among the cyclists injured in the pile-up and after racing in the qualifying round, she had to sit out the remainder of the event as Australia finished fifth.
Hoskins and Meares were members of the track cycling team at the London and Rio Games.
“I have a very heavy heart,” Meares said in a statement to News Corp.
'My thoughts are with their children, family and friends.
“This is a very difficult and tragic time for all of us.”
Three-time world champion Annette Edmondson also paid tribute to her good friend and former Australian teammate.
“She had a great smile and an infectious laugh,” Edmondson told News Corp.
“She was just full of energy and absolutely hilarious. She was also the most incredible dancer if you caught her.
'I had the privilege of riding, racing and training with her for eight years, from the junior world to the 2016 Rio Olympics, and we've had some pretty amazing moments along the way with a world record and a world title together (in 2015 ).
“I think that moment when I stood on stage and signed the national anthem was one of the best moments of my life and I will never forget it.
“It's just an absolute tragedy to lose such a beautiful soul who loved her family and loved those children,” she said.
“Yes, I'm just sending all my love in the world to her family and friends and those she loved.”
Melissa Hoskins (left) hugs Annette Edmondson as they celebrate after winning the women's team pursuit final at the 2015 UCI Track World Championships
Edmondson (left) has described Hoskins as a beautiful soul in a moving tribute to her former Australian teammate
Cycling and the wider community are in mourning following Hoskins' shocking death
AusCycling chief executive Marne Fechner also spoke of the shock and sadness of the sport.
“Melissa described her team pursuit gold medal at the 2015 world championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us the highlight was just being there,” Fechner said.
“Although she retired in 2017, her presence as an alumnus of the sport was felt and appreciated by many in the cycling and equestrian community.”
Her former team, now called Jayco AlUla, wrote: 'We are devastated to hear of the passing of former GreenEDGE Cycling rider Melissa Dennis, née Hoskins.'
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends and the entire cycling community at this deeply saddened time. She will never be forgotten. RIP Mel.”