“Taken Too Soon”: Melissa Hoskins’ Father Delivers Emotional Eulogy at Olympic Athlete’s Funeral

On December 30, 2023, the cycling world lost one of its brightest stars. Melissa Hoskins, an Australian track and road racing cyclist, was involved in a fatal car crash. The 32-year-old Olympian was hewed down by an oncoming vehicle outside her Adelaide home. Shockingly, her husband, Rohan Dennis, a professional athlete was allegedly behind the wheel. Now, weeks later, the family organized a funeral service to show tribute to the beautiful soul whose legacy still lives on.

Melissa Hoskins was laid to rest in her hometown of Perth where many people turned up to pay their respects. The sombre occasion served as a bittersweet celebration of her achievements beyond sports. Her father delivered an emotional eulogy, weaving a captivating tapestry of remembrance that will forever linger in the hearts of the mourners.

Melissa Hoskins’ In Memoriam

The cycling luminary was carried into the West Chapel in a wooden casket, decked with a sunflower wreath. When the country music in the background faded and the mourners had settled, Mellisa Hoskins’ grieving father approached the mantle. Amidst bouts of sobs that stifled his voice, the father delivered a doleful eulogy. ABC News reported some excerpts from the speech saying: “She was on track to becoming a champion mum,…And taken too soon”. He had the heavy duty of relaying Hoskins’ mother’s note to the cyclist as well. In the tear-stained note, her mother wrote, “I may not carry you now in my arms but I will always carry you in my heart”. As he read, Hoskins’ daughter began to sob at her grandfather’s feet.

Hoskins’ sister was unequivocally yearning for her sibling’s company. She shared joyful memories of their childhood and their motherhood. Mellisa Hoskins’ coach – who was like a second father to her – also reminisced about some of his memories, which are nothing short of “treasure” to him. However, the attention of the funeral-goers was soon drawn to a surprising attendee.

Rohan Dennis surprises as an attendee at the funeral

Rohan Dennis made a surprising appearance at Melissa Hoskins’ funeral ceremony in Perth. The athlete is currently under investigation for her death. The eyes of the mourners gathered at Fremantle Cemetery quickly turned to Dennis as the result of the probe is due.

Read More: 9 Years Before Passing Away, Melissa Hoskins Astounded the World at UCI Track Cycling World Championships

Allegedly, Dennis had crashed into his wife in his luxury car outside their $2.45m Adelaide home. He is currently on bail and will need to face the magistrate in court on March 13. The police have yet to issue an official statement but they have seized his 2022 Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 and are verifying the surveillance camera footage to ascertain the cause of death.

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