Ryan Lochte Breaks His Silence on Divorce Controversy and Reveals the True Meaning Behind His Olympic Medals
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte clarified some points regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding his divorce from his ex-wife, Kayla Reid, and revealed the real reason behind selling his medals. After seven years and three children together, he and Reid called their marriage off in 2025, as confirmed by the latter. Lochte hasn’t been in the best of health, either, having suffered a car crash in 2023 that broke his femur in half.
Ryan Lochte Shares Truth About the Ongoing Controversy Surrounding His Divorce and His Olympic Medals
Lochte’s ex-wife filed for divorce in March 2025 and officially announced that their marriage was broken beyond repair. Months later, the 12-time Olympic medalist revealed that he would begin writing a tell-all book, seemingly referring to his ex-wife as he spoke about depression, being belittled for his failures, and even being forced to leave his family home.
Days later, Reid posted a “gentle reminder” video showing Lochte taking his wedding vows and listing the things she did for him. On December 18, 2025, the third-most decorated swimmer shared a lengthy post on Instagram, clarifying that his previous post about his estranged wife was not intended maliciously. However, he still stood by his words that he and Reid hardly knew each other, while expressing gratitude for their children and the love they shared.
He said he had moved on and that therapy played a huge role in getting his life back on track. He further apologized for not being a good husband and promised to work on himself every day.
“I deeply regret any disappointment I’ve caused to those in my life, including the mother of my children.”
In the latter part of his Instagram post, Lochte addressed auctioning off his medals and the backlash he received. He said that his medals never mattered, only the memories and the achievements did. So, he took the opportunity to give out his medals to inspire the next generation and help them chase their dreams.
READ MORE: Amid Growing Controversy, Ryan Lochte Explains Why He’s Giving Away His Olympic Gold Medals
Lochte has been dating Molly Gillihan since his divorce from his wife in 2025.
Ryan Lochte Found His Rhythm Through Baptism Amid Divorce and Rehabilitation
Lochte was baptized in October 2025. In an Instagram post, he shared that he realized the only thing that mattered was what God thinks of him. He also thanked his close ones for supporting him through thick and thin on his journey.
Lochte fell into a really dark place after his crash in 2023, which led him to resort to substances as he battled depression. He checked himself into a Florida recovery center and completed rehabilitation this year, having made serious efforts in sobering himself up.
Lochte trails Michael Phelps in individual Olympic medals in men’s swimming. He earned several recognitions, including the World Swimmer of the Year Award and the American Swimmer of the Year Award.
