Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins farewelled by family and friends at Fremantle funeral

Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins farewelled by family and friends at Fremantle funeral

Melissa Hoskins was remembered as a tremendous Olympic cyclist, a doting mother-of-two and a fun-loving spirit with a legacy that impacted millions.

Mourners who came to lay the 32-year-old to rest in her hometown of Perth on Wednesday afternoon were encouraged to celebrate her.

Hoskins died after she was struck by a car allegedly driven by her husband, Rohan Dennis, outside their Adelaide home on December 30.

Dennis and their two young children were among the funeral attendees at the Fremantle Cemetery.

Hoskins’ pale wooden casket, adorned with a sunflower wreath, was carried into the West Chapel to strums of country music.

Hoskins’ father, Peter, trembled and sobbed when he got up to read his eulogy.

“Melissa’s zest for living touched so many people,” he said.

Attendees were told of Hoskins joyful upbringing as a regular suburban kid in Perth’s Hills.

‘A champion mum’

A childhood full of climbing trees and bike riding with her sister, Jess, before she shot to success as an athlete.

“At the age of 15, Melissa’s life and ours changed forever,” her father said.

Hoskins represented Australia at the 2015 and 2016 Olympics, and won gold in the women’s team pursuit at the 2015 World Championships.

She announced her retirement in 2017, and soon after started a family with Dennis.

Hoskins’ young daughter cooed at her grandfathers feet as he continued his eulogy — telling the sobbing crowd of his daughter’s dedication to her family.

“She was on track to becoming a champion mum,” he said.

“And taken too soon.”