Olympic legend Ryan Lochte has publicly defended himself after he was criticized for getting engaged before his divorce was officially finalized.
The former swimmer, 41, announced his engagement to girlfriend Molly Gillihan, a 37-year-old kindergarten teacher, last week after 14 months of dating.
The announcement came 15 months after his estranged wife Kayla Rae Reid filed for divorce from the former Olympian in March 2025.
The couple’s split was officially announced in June 2025, three months after the initial filing. However, proceedings have since descended into a series of sour legal and public jabs.
And with that bitter battle still dragging on, many hit out at the six-time Olympic Gold medalist for moving on so quickly.
Lochte took to Instagram on Tuesday to hit back at his critics, as he defended his decision to pop the question to Gillihan before his ugly divorce was officially signed off.
Former Olympian Ryan Lochte is engaged to his girlfriend, kindergarten teacher Molly Gillihan
The former swimmer’s bitter divorce from estranged wife Kayla Rae Reid is not yet finalized
Lochte was forced to defend his decision to get engaged before his divorce was final
‘Correction: Apparently I’m not allowed to say I’m divorced until every signature is in place,’ he wrote in a statement on his story. ‘So, while we’ve reached an agreement, the judge hasn’t officially signed off yet.’
‘My mistake for thinking the hard part was over,’ he added.
Lochte continued: ‘Molly and I are realizing this may just be the beginning of a very tough and exhausting road.
‘Prayers appreciated while we navigate this new reality. It seems someone wants to make sure this chapter isn’t quite done with me yet.’
The six-time Olympic gold medal winner is said to have gotten down on one knee earlier this month at a restaurant called Prime and Pearl in Gainesville, Florida.
It was a romantic nod to the couple’s love story with the love birds spending their first date at the restaurant.
The happy couple are said to have walked along a path of red rose petals before taking a seat in the same booth where they began their romance.
At the table, a card was reportedly waiting, containing the all-important question. After reading the message, Gillihan turned around to find her beau down on one knee and gave a resounding, ‘yes.’
The former swimmer won 12 Olympic medals – six gold – during his decorated career
The six-time Olympic gold medal winner is said to have gotten down on one knee at the same restaurant where they had their first date
Lochte and Gillihan went Instagram official with their romance over July 4 weekend last year but had begun dating a couple of months before.
Lochte was married to former Playboy Playmate Reid, with whom he shares three children – Caiden, eight, Liv, six, and Georgia, two – for seven years.
At the time of their split, Reid wrote in a lengthy Instagram post that she made the ‘hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection’ following a season she described as ‘painful’ and ‘challenging.’
While she hinted at ‘betrayal’ in that initial announcement, Lochte was spotted cozying up to Gillihan shortly after, though he has adamantly denied any overlap between the two relationships.
Their separation took an ugly turn earlier this year when Reid levied further accusations of cheating against the former Olympian.
On an episode of her podcast ‘The Comeback Era with Caroline and Kayla,’ Reid claimed that Lochte and Gillihan began their relationship before the married couple separated.
‘I’m so happy for him,’ Reid said with heavy sarcasm. ‘They’ve been happy for a very long time. Very long time. For many years. They go way back.’
In March 2025, ex-wife Kayla filed for divorce alleging Lochte did drugs in front of their kids
Pictured: Lochte, his ex-wife Kayla and two of the three children that the former couple share
Lochte and Gillihan both defended themselves, posting screenshots of Instagram DMs the pair shared expressing their interest after the divorce began.
In court filings, Reid also alleged that the ex-swimmer used drugs in front of their children.
However, Lochte has maintained that he ‘never did drugs in front of the kids’ despite the accusations from Reid. He also claimed he never considered himself to have been addicted.
Further tension broke out between the feuding former couple following Lochte’s new job announcement.
Lochte, who remains one of the most decorated Olympic athletes in history, announced last month that he is moving into the world of collegiate sports to become assistant swim coach at Missouri State.
The job will see him move – at least some of the time – from his home in Gainesville, Florida, to the university campus a 15-hour drive away.
The decision reportedly left Reid furious with the former model believing that the move will be ‘challenging’ for their three young children, who are staying back with her in Florida – despite Lochte offering his estranged wife the house, everything in it, and $25,000 if she would let the kids go with him to Missouri.
Earlier this year, the swimmer confirmed he had moved into a new home with Gillihan and her three children.
