Olympic cyclist speaks for first time after being charged with wife's death
Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis has broken his silence after being charged over the death of his wife.
Melissa Hoskins, 32, was killed on Saturday after being hit by a car just outside of the pair's home in Medindie, Adelaide. Husband Dennis, 33, was allegedly driving the vehicle and has since been charged by police for causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.
The former time trial world champion and Olympic bronze medalist was arrested on Sunday, and has now been released on bail and is due to appear in court on March 13 this year. But prior to that development, he sent out two representatives to address a group of reporters waiting outside his house.
The pair, one Spanish and one Australian, requested that the media don't film the couple's two young children. "They need privacy and they need to grieve," one friend said. "This is a terrible time for us."
The children were then driven away from the house by the two friends. Dennis was picked up in a different car later on, and asked journalists not to follow the vehicle as he left the property.
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Hoskins' father, Peter, has now also released a statement on behalf of the family, paying an emotional tribute to his daughter: "Myself, Amanda, Jess and families, are utterly devastated and still struggling to process what has happened.
"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."
Rohan Dennis and Melissa HoskinsHoskins died at Royal Adelaide Hospital after she was hit by the couple's $70,000 Volkswagen Amarok Highline ute. Herself a professional cyclist, she was part of the Australian track cycling team pursuit team that finished fourth at the 2012 London Olympics.
She also rode in the Rio Olympics four years later. And the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) were one of many organisations to paid tribute via social media.
"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."
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