Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis fronts Adelaide District Court for guilty plea arraignment

Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis is expected to hear from the heartbroken family of his wife and fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins in court, with victim impact statements set to be tendered in the case that has shocked Australia’s sporting community.

Dennis has pleaded guilty to driving recklessly before the death of Ms Hoskins, who was struck by his car outside their leafy Adelaide home on the evening of December 30, 2023.

It is believed the tragedy followed a domestic argument between the pair and Ms Hoskins initially jumped on the bonnet of the family’s dark grey Volkswagen Amarok as Dennis slowly drove away from the home.

CCTV then captured her running beside the vehicle before she was struck and injured after reaching for a door handle.

Paramedics took Ms Hoskins to Royal Adelaide Hospital for further treatment. She died at the hospital.

Dennis has admitted to driving a motor vehicle without lawful excuse while Ms Hoskins was on or in proximity to the vehicle, knowing that act was likely to cause harm to another and being recklessly indifferent to whether such harm was caused.

The maximum penalty for the offence is seven years in prison.

At his guilty plea arraignment at Adelaide District Court on Friday, a clean-cut Dennis stood quietly in the dock before judge Ian Press as the sentencing process in his case began.

Prosecutor Stephanie Moore indicated to Judge Press that “some” victim impact statements would be “forthcoming”.

“I can indicate there will be some forthcoming; however, we still need to ascertain the wishes of those providing those statements,” she said.

“Who will read and if they will be read aloud to the court.”

A victim impact statement offers those who have suffered from a crime a chance to impress upon judges the effect the offending has had on their life.

Jessica Kurtzer, appearing for Dennis, said “at least an hour” would be required for sentencing submissions, which Judge Press scheduled for April 14.

The Olympic medallist, dressed in a sharp suit, left the court quickly and declined to offer any comment on proceedings.

At an earlier hearing in December last year, Jane Abbey KC, for Dennis, told the court that her client was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins’ death.

“There was no intention of Mr Dennis to harm his wife and this charge does not charge him with responsibility for her death,” she said.

The athlete’s change of fortune has been swift and shocking.

Just three years ago, he stood on a podium in Tokyo and celebrated his place in sporting history as an individual Olympic medallist.

He first achieved fame at the 2012 London Olympics, nabbing a silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit on the cycling track.

At Brazil in 2016, he finished in fifth place in the individual time trial, but perhaps his crowning achievement is his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on July 28, 2021.

In memorable scenes at the Fuji International Speedway, he clinched the medal with a time of 56:08.09.

In 2017, he became engaged to Ms Hoskins, who competed in the London and Rio Olympics in track cycling.

She only just missed out on a medal in London, finishing fourth in the 3000m team pursuit category.

In Rio, she finished fifth in the 4000m team pursuit.

In 2018, the pair married and would settle into a home in up-market Medindie with their two children.

In 2022, Dennis won a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the UK.

In 2023, he retired from cycling, thanking Ms Hoskins for her support in a heartfelt post to social media.

“Thank you Melissa Dennis for supporting me throughout my entire professional career, all while raising two of the best kids I could ever ask for,” he said.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in February last year to farewell Ms Hoskins at a public service in Adelaide.