Olympian Melissa Hoskins, who died at the end of last year, has been remembered as a champion cyclist as well as a “one of a kind” mother and friend at a memorial held at Adelaide Town Hall.
Hundreds gathered at the event, held on what would have been Hoskins 33rd birthday to commemorate her achievements.
Hoskin competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in the team pursuit and was in the squad that won the 2015 UCI Track World Championships in Paris, breaking the world record with their finishing time.
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The 32-year-old mother of two died in hospital in December and her partner, renowned cyclist Rohan Dennis, charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life.
Dennis attended the service on Saturday with the couple’s two children and greeted those in attendance.
Among the mourners was Hoskins’ family, friends and athletes such as cycling legend Anna Meares.
Hoskins’ friend, Kim Howard, spoke of the day the cyclist met her husband. He said Dennis was “beaming so damn brightly” when he found out that his interest in pursing a romantic relationship was mutual.
“Over the years, as they grew together as individuals and as a couple, I got to witness her drive, her intelligence and care in every aspect of her life,” he said.
“It was no easy task to be the life party while simultaneously being dedicated to her craft.
“She was so much more than a bike rider. Mel would go out of her way to make people feel special.”
Her friends said Hoskins was an incredible cook and mother who had the ability to connect with anyone from all over the world.
They called her “extraordinary” and said only she had the “courage to lead a nation.”
Hoskins’ sister Jessica Locke said it was still painful to speak of her sister, two months since her death. She described Hoskins as her best friend and said Hoskins had tattooed her name and an infinity symbol on her right foot.
“There is so many things only you knew and only you would understand. I feel so lost not being able to talk to you about them anymore,” she said.
“There will be no more breaking out in song together to our favourite Disney classics.
“What happened was not fair, she had so much left to give.”