Olympic Champion Ryan Lochte Reflects on Overcoming Marriage Struggles with Kayla Reid
Former Olympic swimming champion Ryan Lochte shares his inspiring journey of rescuing his marriage to Kayla Reid from the brink of divorce Discover the heartfelt tale behind their incredible bond and the steps they took to rebuild their relationship Don't miss out on this incredible story of love and redemption
Kayla Reid, Ryan Lochte. Rebecca Sapp/WireImage
Ryan Lochte and Kayla Reid Lochte are approaching their fifth wedding anniversary on January 9, but the Olympic swimming champion recently admitted that their marriage was on the brink of ending in divorce.
Despite Lochte, 39, having secured 12 Olympic gold medals, his failure to qualify for the USA 2021 Summer Olympics swim team plunged him into such a deep depression that it jeopardized his marriage.
Lochte discussed his struggles with mental health during a conversation with his Dancing with the Stars partner, Cheryl Burke, on her podcast "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans." On the episode released on November 27, he revealed, "I would always wake up and I couldn’t even go outside to take my trash out to the end of the driveway. I couldn’t even get out of bed. … Me and my wife, we were about to get a divorce because she was like, 'Who are you?'"
Lochte admitted to being emotional, stating "I found myself crying constantly. I would wake up each day, gaze at my reflection and think, 'Absolutely pathetic.'... I felt like I had disappointed everyone, and for me, that was the hardest part because I care deeply for everyone. I have a kind heart."
In October 2016, Lochte got engaged to Kayla, 32, and they tied the knot in January 2018. They are now the proud parents of three children: Caiden Zane, 6; Live Rae, 4; and Georgia June, 5 months.
Lochte said the love of his wife and children were the key to his recovery.
“The biggest thing that helped was my family,” he continued.
Having overcome alcoholism in the past, Lochte has recently revealed that he is now 60 days sober and is focused on being a supportive husband and father. Reflecting on turning his life around, he stated, “You’re always going to get knocked down no matter what, but it’s how you get back up and how you keep moving forward that defines who you are.”
Lochte's most significant setback occurred in 2016 during the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. At that time, he falsely claimed that he and three teammates were robbed at gunpoint, resulting in charges of providing a false claim of a robbery. Fortunately, the charges were later dismissed.
Lochte confessed to being intoxicated at the time, leading to a 10-month suspension from domestic and international swimming competitions by USA Swimming. In a separate incident two years later in Newport Beach, California, police were called after he allegedly tried to kick in his own hotel room door, prompting him to enter an alcohol rehab program.
Lochte admitted to The Guardian in June 2021 that he was on a dangerous path, saying, "I was just headed to a dark, dark place. It just seemed like every time that I was drinking heavily, I was doing something stupid and it was a pattern. It made me realize the path I was heading down if I kept going that route. And if I would have kept that pattern, who knows what could have happened? I could have ended up in a car wreck. Or killing someone else. So it was definitely a wake-up call. I needed to grow up, smell the coffee and be like, this is not you. You need to change who you are."
Despite being one of the most decorated Olympics swimmers in history, Lochte values having a loving wife and children above all else.
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In an interview with The Guardian, he expressed, "This is everything I've ever wanted in life. Being a dad and a husband trumps every gold medal I've ever won. Swimming is just the cherry on top. Life has changed and I'm proud of who I've become."
