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Melissa Hoskins Dies After Being Hit By Car At Age 32

An Australian Olympic track cyclist and former world champion, Melissa Hoskins dies after being hit by car in the southern part of the nation on Monday, according to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). Her age was 32.

Melissa Hoskins Dies After Being Hit By Car At Age 32

David Mitchell

Jan 03, 2024

An Australian Olympic track cyclist and former world champion, Melissa Hoskins dies after being hit by carin the southern part of the nation on Monday, according to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). Her age was 32.

Police stated the motorist was "known to the woman," but he was not identified in the press release either.

Rohan Dennis, a two-time world individual time trial champion and Hoskins' spouse has been charged with murder after being taken into custody, according to extensive reports in the Australian media.

Melissa Hoskins Dies After Being Hit By Car

Melissa Hoskin holding a medal and yellow flowers
Melissa Hoskin holding a medal and yellow flowers

Melissa Hoskins, an Olympic track cyclist from Australia and a past world champion, passed away on Monday at the age of 32, the country's Olympic organization announced.

A 32-year-old woman in Adelaide, Australia, died after being struck by a car driven by a man "known to the woman," according to a statement made public by South Australian Policeon Sunday. She was identified as Hoskins by the local media.

According to the police statement, the woman "suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment," She sadly passed away in the hospital overnight.

In a statement, Peter Hoskins, her father, claimed that the family was "utterly devastated" by her passing.

Words cannot convey our grief, sadness and the tragic circumstances of Melissa’s passing. Myself, Amanda, Jess and families, are utterly devastated and still struggling to process what has happened.- Peter Hoskins

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.- Peter Hoskins

Professional road race cyclist Rohan Dennis has been accused of being the reason behind Olympian Melissa Hoskins's death, following an incident that happened on Saturday in Adelaide's inner north.

The 33-year-old male who was "arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life" was not given a name in the police statement.

The individual has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13, according to the police statement.

Emergency services were dispatched to Avenel Gardens Road in Medindie shortly after 8 p.m., according to SA Police, in response to reports of a woman being struck by a car.

Hoskins and Dennis were supposed to participate in something at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide this month. The Tour Down Under organizers stated in a statement on Monday:

We are devastated by the news of Melissa Hoskins death. It's an extremely tragic situation which has seen the loss of a young mum and champion cyclist. Given the circumstances, Rohan Dennis will no longer be participating.- he Tour Down Under organizers

Hoskins participated in the team pursuit competition for Australia at the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, and he was a member of the team that won the global championship in 2015.

The Australian Olympic Committee posted on X, stating:

The AOC has expressed the utmost sadness at the loss of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins after the tragic events in Adelaide. Our condolences go to Melissa’s family, friends and the cycling community at this extremely difficult time.- Australian Olympic Committee

Marne Fechner, the CEO of AusCyling, also issued a statement.

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 having her around. Although she retired in 2017, her presence as an alumnus of the sporthas been felt and appreciated by many in the cycling and riding community.- Marne Fechner

Final Words

An Australian Olympic track cyclist, Melissa Hoskins dies after being hit by car. Following a collision in Medindie on Saturday, a 32-year-old lady was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital with critical injuries, according to police. A press statement stated that the woman, who remained anonymous to South Australia Police, was later declared deceased.

The driver was recognized by local news agencies as Hoskins' husband, 33-year-old former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis.

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