The Olympian avoided prison after his wife was fatally struck by his car, and his insensitive social media post is now facing fierce backlash

Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis is once again stirring up controversy, making headlines for his social media activity. More than two years after his wife, Melissa Hoskins, tragically passed away. Dennis recently returned to social media, and his Instagram posts have quickly drawn a lot of attention and some serious backlash.

According to People, Dennis had previously pleaded guilty to an aggravated count of creating the likelihood of harm after Hoskins was struck by his car in December 2023. The couple shared two young children, and in May 2025, Dennis received a suspended sentence for his actions.

After staying completely off social media since 2023, Dennis popped back up online earlier this week. He first shared a close-up picture of his bike, which seemed pretty innocuous for a former Olympic cyclist. Then, he posted two images of his Porsche, and this is where things took a turn. The caption on those Porsche pictures, posted read, “What an absolute weapon.” That phrase, considering the circumstances, really set off a firestorm.

That ‘weapon’ line is where things got uncomfortable

The day after his car post caused such a stir, Dennis appeared to double down. He shared a photo of his two kids riding bikes with the caption, “Two absolute weapons ❤️.”It felt like he was poking fun at the controversy, which many found incredibly insensitive. He even shared a surveillance video of reporters, presumably outside his home, asking him about the “weapon” caption. In that footage, Dennis waved at the camera crew, shouting, “You’re amazing. I love you. Hello.”

Melissa Hoskins, also an Olympic cyclist, died after an argument with Dennis over kitchen renovations. She reportedly jumped onto the hood of his car as he tried to drive away. A judge later stated that while Dennis had disregarded his wife’s safety, he wasn’t criminally responsible for her death. His conviction specifically related to the “act of driving” with Hoskins on the hood. It is an important distinction, as the public remains highly sensitive to troubling incidents where husbands have put their wives in danger.

During his May 2025 sentencing, Judge Ian Press told Dennis, “I accept you have a sense of responsibility… I accept you have anguished over what could have been different.” Explaining the suspended sentence, the judge stated, “Given your plea of guilty, your remorse, that you are the sole carer for your young children… I am satisfied that good reason exists to suspend that sentence.”

As part of his sentence, Dennis had his driving license suspended for five years. This means he won’t legally be able to drive his luxury car until the end of 2028, which is an interesting detail given his recent car posts. He is currently out on a good behavior bond, and his sentence of one year and four months was suspended for two years. Even with all the legal proceedings, Hoskins’ family has stood by Dennis.

Melissa’s mother, Amanda Hoskins, previously told Dennis “I know that you would never intentionally hurt her.” She added, “I believe this is a tragic accident,” but also shared some tough love, saying “Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed.” Melissa’s father, Peter Hoskins, also expressed a desire to move forward, stating “It’s now time for us to move on, which would be Melissa’s expectations of us. Clearly, we want to continue to be an integral part of their children’s lives and their future.” 

He also noted, “With respect to Rohan, as hard as it’s going to be, it’s important that we also have a well-mannered relationship with him.”