Cycling and sport bid farewell to 2023 with serious news: the death of former Olympic cyclist Melissa Dennis (née Hoskins) and the news that her husband, cyclist and double time trial world champion Rohan Dennis, has been accused of allegedly fatally running over his wife, with whom he has two children.
Melissa Hoskins won World Track Cycling gold in the team pursuit discipline at the championships held in Saint-Quentin (France) in 2015. Previously, she achieved world bronze in the same discipline in 2014, two more silvers in 2013 and 2012 and achieved another world scratch silver in 2012.
In road cycling, Hoskins also won three more medals in team time trials: two silvers (2012 and 2014) and one bronze (2013).
In the Olympic Games, in the team pursuit, he was fourth in London 2012 and fifth in Rio de Janeiro 2016.
Messages of grief soon poured in from Hoskins’ former teammates on the Olympic team and other sports personalities. Hoskins’ Olympic teammate, Anna Meares, sent an emotional message online sharing a photo with Melissa they took at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“My heart is so heavy. My thoughts are with his children, family and friends. This is a very difficult and tragic moment. RIP,” he said.
Hoskins’ former team, GreenEDGE, now called Jayco AIUIa, also mourned his loss: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of former GreenEDGE rider Melissa Dennis, née Hoskins. Our thoughts are with her family and friends and all of the cycling community at this deeply sad time. She will never forget. Rest in peace, Mel,” he said in a statement on Twitter.
For his part, the executive director of the Australian cycling federation, AusCycling, Marne Fechner, spoke of “shock and pain” upon learning of the death. “Melissa, a mother, daughter and wife, is also a champion cyclist who has thrilled and inspired us with her exceptional track and road skills,” said Fechner.
“Melissa began her competitive cycling career at just 16, and by the time she retired at 25, she had proven to the world that she was an athlete of exceptional skill. Melissa described her gold medal in the team’s pursuit of the World Cycling Championships in “He named UCI Track 2015 as the highlight of his career, but for the rest of us, the highlight was having him around,” Fechner said.
“Although she retired in 2017, her presence as an alumni of the sport was felt and appreciated by many in the cycling and riding community. AusCycling extends its deepest sympathies to Melissa’s family, friends and former colleagues and will the appropriate way to commemorate him and his contribution to our sport in the days to come,” added the aforementioned text.
The world’s main body for cyclists, CPA Women, also wants to remember the cyclist: “We send our thoughts to those who loved him, starting with his children, and who were lucky enough to ride with him during life is too short. We will miss you “Melissa.”
Source: La Verdad
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