Photo Credit; Getty Images
Ryan Lochte has taken a major personal step, moving in with his new girlfriend and her three children just nine months after his estranged wife filed for divorce. The former Olympic swimmer confirmed the decision, calling it "the right next step" following the end of his seven-year marriage to Kayla Rae Reid.
Lochte, 41, shares three children with Reid, Caiden, 8, Liv, 6, and Georgia, 2, and said his new relationship has grown around shared values and family priorities. "I fell in love with someone who shares those same values and who has three children of her own," he told People on Thursday, adding that the transition felt natural as their families blended.
"Together, we're a family of six kids," Lochte explained. "She's my best friend, our kids have formed an incredible bond, and it became clear that being together under one roof was the right next step for all of us." He said the couple needed a larger home to support their blended household and emphasized their focus on stability and structure.
Lochte said the past year has been about personal accountability and growth. "Everything I've done over the last 10 months has been about my kids and becoming the best father I can be," he said, noting his decision to enter rehab, recommit to his Christian faith, attend therapy, and make lifestyle changes. He added that those efforts have allowed him to now have his children 50 percent of the time.
The 12-time Olympic medalist also shared photos from the move on Instagram, captioning the post, "Home Sweet Home," alongside images of himself and girlfriend Molly Gillihan inside their new residence. The couple have been romantically linked since July.
Lochte, who has six Olympic medals, including six gold, has been open about rebuilding his life following a career marked by both athletic success and controversy. He is currently working on a memoir detailing his struggles with substance abuse, his highly publicized Rio 2016 scandal, and a near-fatal car crash in 2023 that he says contributed to depression and isolation.
Now sober, Lochte says his focus is firmly on his children and his future. He has acknowledged shortcomings in his marriage, expressed regret for past mistakes, and vowed to keep his previous relationship private as he embraces what he calls a new purpose centered on faith, family, and healing.
