The two-time Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins has died after she was struck by a car in Adelaide’s inner north.
Hoskins’ husband and fellow Australian Olympic cyclist, Rohan, has reportedly been charged in relation to her death.
Paramedics rushed Hoskins to the Royal Adelaide hospital with serious injuries after she was hit by a ute at Medindie on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old mother of two died overnight.
South Australia police confirmed a 32-year-woman died after a collision on Saturday. The force said a 33-year-old man from the northern suburb of Medindie had been arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.
South Australian police acting assistant commissioner, Rob Papworth, said he could not provide additional detail but said investigators are considering CCTV of the incident.
“I can’t really reveal too much about the actual investigation because it is currently before the courts,” he said.
Born in Perth in 1991, she won gold in the team pursuit at the 2015 world championships and rode in the team pursuit at two Olympic Games and competed on the road from 2012-15 with Australian professional team GreenEDGE.
Rohan Dennis won back-to-back individual time trial world titles in 2018 and 2019, and has won stages in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. He took bronze in the road time trial at Tokyo 2020 and silver in the team pursuit on the track at London 2012. He retired in 2023.
The couple married near Perth in 2018 and have a son and a daughter.
Tributes to Hoskins have poured in on social media with retired champion Australian cyclist Annette Edmondson describing her former teammate as a “fun loving, hilarious person who was so talented in so many areas” and a “force to be reckoned with.”
“You, your infectious smile and your wicked laugh will always have a piece of my heart and I look forward to seeing you again soon. Keep on dancing/boiling those damn kettle eggs for me will you?” she said.
In a post on X, CPA Women, a global association of female professional cyclists, said it was shocked by the news of Hoskins’ death. It added: “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.”
Shocked by the news of #MelissaHoskins' death, 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 🖤
— CPA Women (@women_cpa) December 31, 2023
We will miss you Melissa 🙏🏼 #RIP #Hoskins #Dennis #RestInPeace #CpaWomen
📸 @uci_wwt pic.twitter.com/z43RAuSHw0
ABC reported that Hoskins and Dennis had been due to lead a family cycling event at the Santos Tour Down Under. Details on the tour’s website have since been removed.
South Australia police said the fatal crash happened in Medindie on Saturday shortly after 8pm, when there were reports that a woman had been hit by a car.
It said the woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide hospital for treatment but died overnight.
The force said officers specialising in crashes attended the scene along with detectives to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police confirmed the driver was known to the woman. He was bailed to appear before Adelaide magistrates court on 13 March.
