Melissa Hoskins' family says they are “absolutely devastated” after the Olympic cyclist's death.
The 32-year-old, who represented Australia at two Olympics, died after being hit by a car on Saturday.
Hoskins' husband, fellow Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis, has He was reportedly accused of causing her death.
In a statement, her parents, Peter and Amanda, and sister Jess said they were “overwhelmed with grief and support.”
“Amanda, Jess and I and my families are absolutely devastated and still struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” they said.
“Not only did we lose our daughter and sister, but her children lost their mother, a free, generous spirit with a big heart, patience and enthusiasm for life.
He added: “She was the rock of their lives and ours, and we need to honor her memory so that they can grow up knowing who she was, what she stood for, and what she gave to everyone whose lives she touched.”
They added: “In her short life, Melissa had many positive points of contact in and around the world.”
Hoskins became world champion in the team pursuit in 2015 and participated in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics.
On Saturday, she was seriously injured in the accident in Adelaide and later died in hospital.
South Australian Police have confirmed that a 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without adequate care and endangering life.
Police said the driver was known to Haskins and was released on bail until March.
Hoskins and Dennis married in 2018 and have two children.
Dennis, a stage winner in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España, announced in February his decision to retire at the end of the 2023 season.
AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner paid tribute to Hoskins and said the sport's governing body in Australia “will determine the appropriate way to commemorate her and her contribution to our sport in the coming days”.
Fechner added: “Melissa, a mother, daughter and wife, was also a champion cyclist who amazed and inspired us with her incredible skills on the track and road.
“Melissa described her team's gold medal at the 2015 UCI Track and Field World Championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us, the highlight was having her around.”
