- Post comes as the UAE is hit in ongoing conflict
Aussie Olympic great Stephanie Rice has published a sad new update about her husband as the conflict in the Middle East leaves them stranded 12,000km apart.
The three-time gold medallist’s husband, Mark Lassey, is currently located in Dubai, which has been hit by multiple airstrikes since the US and Israel began bombarding Iran.
Lassey is a pastor for the Kingdom City church, which has a branch in the city, where he has been living with Rice since they married in January last year.
Since the conflict began, the pair have been unable to see each other in person because Rice has been in Australia.
More than nine days have passed since the war broke out, with Rice taking to social media to reveal her heartache over the situation.
‘Missing my husband. Missing my home. Praying I can get back to Dubai as soon as it’s safe!’ she wrote on her Instagram story.
Stephanie Rice has taken to social media to express her heartbreak over being separated from husband Mark Lassey (pictured)
The Olympic champion and Lassey started living together in Dubai after they married in January 2025
Rice also issued an urgent plea after her new home of Dubai was hit by Iranian attacks shortly after the conflict started.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist took to social media after the city’s famous Burj Al-Arab Hotel was reportedly hit by an Iranian suicide drone.
Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah Hotel was also hit by a suicide drone attack, leaving four people injured.
The city’s Dubai International Airport was also evacuated after reports claimed it was targeted by an Iranian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).
Rice, 37, moved from Australia to Dubai in November 2023.
She met Lassey soon after relocating to the city of four million.
He popped the question at Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal Hotel in September 2024 after a whirlwind seven-month romance.
Rice, who is a devout Christian, joined the city’s Kingdom City church and opened up about her newfound dedication to religion after moving across the world.
Rice posted the above message when the conflict first broke out, urging people to pray for those affected by the airstrikes
Rice, 37, is pictured with Lassey in Rome during their honeymoon
Shortly after the attacks began in Dubai, in-person services for Lassey’s Kingdom City church were cancelled.
‘Your safety is important to us, and we believe this is the most sensible decision at this time,’ the church wrote in a statement.
‘We encourage you to follow government advice calmly… keep updated via official channels only and not to share unverified information over social media.’
Australians have now been urged not to travel to the United Arab Emirates after a new government warning.
Smartraveller issued the ‘do not travel’ warning on Sunday as retaliatory military and drone strikes continue across the Middle East after joint US-Israel action on Iran.
‘The UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports,’ it said.
‘Military conflict in the region may result in widespread movement restrictions, and other travel disruptions.’
