Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has expressed his frustration with reporters on social media, claiming they have fabricated a “false narrative” about him following the death of his wife in 2023.
In a post on Instagram late Monday, the former professional cyclist stated, “The narrative that the media has chosen to push is evident. They aimed to portray me as the husband who abused his wife.”
Last May, Dennis received a 17-month suspended sentence after his vehicle accidentally struck his wife, fellow Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins, outside their home in a suburb of Adelaide.
He pleaded guilty to an aggravated act that could likely cause harm but was not found criminally liable for Hoskins’ death.
In March of this year, Dennis returned to Instagram with a post featuring a black Porsche, captioned, “What an absolute weapon.” This post was met with criticism from South Australia’s victims’ rights commissioner, Sarah Quick, who deemed it “deeply offensive.” He later shared a photo of his two children, referring to them as “two absolute weapons.”
The world champion has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with how the media has covered his situation. When a journalist reached out for comments regarding his social media activity in mid-March, he responded, “It didn’t take these rats long.”
On Monday, Dennis reiterated his love for Melissa, asserting that he would never wish to harm her. “At no point in my life have I ever thought of physical aggression during any disagreement with Melissa,” he stated. “I have always stood firmly against any form of abuse towards women, especially towards the mother of my children.”
In his Instagram message, Dennis revealed that following Hoskins’ funeral, reporters had questioned him about whether he considered himself a murderer and how he felt knowing his children would never see their mother again.
“The media claims to care about the children and expresses sorrow for them,” he wrote this week. “Yet, they relentlessly stalk, follow, and harass not only the adults in my family but also involve the kids.”
He accused the press of distorting his statements, saying, “They know I never intended to use a vehicle as a weapon, yet they pursue me for sensational clicks. This is pathetic journalism.” He concluded his post by urging journalists and media outlets to respect his family’s privacy.
The district court in South Australia had previously heard that an argument between Dennis and Hoskins about kitchen renovations occurred before he drove away in December 2023. Hoskins had jumped onto the hood of the car, and despite Dennis continuing to drive, she eventually fell off, leading to her tragic death.
During the sentencing in May 2025, Judge Ian Press emphasized that Dennis was not charged with causing Hoskins’ death. “Unbeknownst to you, your wife held onto the car as you accelerated down the street. It was then that she fell and lost her life,” he remarked.
Dennis accepted a $100 good behavior bond for two years and had his driver’s license suspended for five years.
Throughout his athletic career, Dennis achieved two world titles in the road time trial and earned silver in the team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics, along with a bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, Hoskins represented Australia in the team pursuit at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and was part of the team that secured the world title in 2015.
