'I loved Melissa': Former Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis accuses media of peddling 'false narrative' after wife's death

Former Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has pleaded with the media to "back off" and accused journalists of peddling a "false narrative" in his first public statement since facing court over his wife's death.

Dennis, 35, was handed a suspended jail term in May last year after his wife Melissa Hoskins, 32, was fatally struck by his vehicle near their home at Medindie, in Adelaide's inner north, on December 30, 2023.

He faced backlash from a victim advocacy group last month after sharing an Instagram post where he described his car – a different vehicle to the one that struck Hoskins – as an "absolute weapon".

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In a new message posted to Instagram, Dennis addressed the media scrutiny and defended the post about his Porsche, adding that he "loved Melissa" and was not an abuser.

"The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt her," Dennis wrote.

"Never in my life has any physical aggression crossed my mind in any disagreement with Melissa.

"The narrative which the media ran with was clear they wanted me to look like the husband who abused his wife."

Dennis said he and his family have been mistreated by the media in the wake of Hoskins' death and the subsequent court case.

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He said journalists had greeted him at the airport the day after Hoskins died and asked him inappropriate questions.

The ex-cyclist alleged reporters made "disgusting" remarks in front of his children and openly asked if he was a murderer.

"The media speak about the children and how saddened they are for the children," Dennis continued.

"Yet they happily stalk, follow and harass not just adults in my family but even when the kids are involved."

Dennis said his words had been "twisted" and that he never "intentionally or unintentionally used a vehicle as a weapon".

"Never was it legally said that I did either," he added.

"The video footage of the accident also proves this statement."

He finished the statement with a final plea: "Time for all you so called [sic] journalists and media outlets to back off and leave my family alone."

Victims' Rights Commissioner Sarah Quick described Dennis' post about his car last month as "deeply offensive".

"It also reflects a profound lack of respect for Melissa and her family, who continue to live with the consequences of that harm every day," Quick told nine.com.au in a statement.

Dennis pleaded guilty to committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm, but was not held criminally responsible for his wife's death.

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He was given a 17-month suspended prison term with a two-year good behaviour bond and was suspended from driving for two years.

During sentencing submissions in the SA District Court last year, Hoskins' mother Amanda said her daughter had loved Dennis and "and I know that you would never intentionally hurt her".

"I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed," she said.

During his competitive career, Dennis won two world titles in the road time trial, as well as silver in the team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics and bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics.

Nine.com.au has contacted Dennis for comment.

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National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).