AUSTRALIA — Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis, 35, addressed criticism over the 2023 death of his wife, fellow cyclist Melissa Hoskins, in an Instagram post on April 6, 2026.
Hoskins, who shared two young children with Dennis, died after being struck by his car during an argument in December 2023. Dennis pleaded guilty to one count of creating the likelihood of harm and received a 17-month suspended sentence. He was not criminally responsible for her death and is currently out on a good-behavior bond.
In his Instagram post, Dennis said the incident was an accident and condemned media coverage that he claims spread a “false narrative,” portraying him as abusive. He also accused journalists of harassing his family at Hoskins’ funeral and on multiple occasions afterward, saying their comments to him and his two-year-old daughter were “disgusting.”
Dennis wrote, “Time for all you so-called journalists and media outlets to back off and leave my family alone,” asserting that he never intentionally or unintentionally used a vehicle as a weapon.
Hoskins’ death followed a confrontation in which she jumped on the hood of Dennis’ car while he attempted to drive away, according to prior reports by the BBC, ABC, and the Associated Press.
Dennis’ post comes after controversy in March 2026 over a social media caption referring to his Porsche as “an absolute weapon,” which he later clarified in a lighthearted post featuring his children.
This is a developing story.
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