Copyright Us Weekly
Ryan Lochte has been born again after a rocky year. The Olympic swimmer, 41, revealed he was baptized on Sunday, November 2, following his divorce from Kayla Rae Reid and his return from a substance abuse rehab earlier this year. “I love sharing my life with my fans/followers. In this season of growing, I have learned that the only thing that truly matters is what God thinks of me,” Lochte wrote via Instagram, sharing several videos of himself in a silver tube before being dunked under water during the religious ceremony. Lochte told his followers, “I made the decision to rededicate my life to Jesus and today I was baptized! My heart is full of so much love and happiness and I’m just so thankful for everything God is doing and going to do in my life.” He concluded: “Thank you for all those who have loved and supported me throughout my life, you mean so much to me! @canvas_fl.” In addition to sharing videos from the actual baptism, Lochte posed for photos with two of his three children, Caiden, 8, and Liv, 6, as well as his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, and what appeared to be two of her kids. Lochte’s eldest kids, whom he shares with estranged wife Reid, were all smiles as they attended their dad’s big moment at Canvas Church in Florida. (Lochte and Reid, 34, also share daughter Georgia, 2.) “Congrats!” former Bachelor Sean Lowe replied in the comments, while Lochte’s fans applauded him for being so open and honest about his faith journey. Lochte’s baptism, which is a Christian tradition to wash away sin, comes two months after he announced he was sober following a stint in a substance abuse program. “I wanted to share some positive updates in my life and what’s going on,” Lochte shared via Instagram on August 29. “I’m so happy right now, and the big reason is that I’m 54 days sober. Yes!” The retired professional swimmer explained that after being involved in a 2023 car accident he was in a “really dark place” that resulted in feelings of “depression, loneliness and [had him] feeling like [he] was giving up in life.” Lochte noted that following the crash, his mental state led him “down a road of substance abuse.” Once he realized he “needed to make a change,” the athlete checked into a Florida recovery center. “I’m motivated and I’m moving forward,” he explained. “I wanted to share this with you guys, especially my fans, because you guys are so important to me. In life, you’re going to get knocked down or hit a roadblock. … It’s not how you get knocked out. It’s how you get back up.” Lochte’s recovery journey also came amid his and Reid’s ongoing divorce. After seven years of marriage, Reid filed for divorce from Lochte in June. “Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” Reid wrote via Instagram at the time. “I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing and challenging seasons of my life. I’ve been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing — not from fresh, open wounds.” Lochte released his own statement in June, writing via social media, “Although this decision hasn’t been easy, I believe it’s the right step toward peace and well-being for us both. I remain committed to healing, growth and coparenting with care and respect as we move forward separately. Thank you to our family and friends for your continued support. It truly means a lot as we begin this new chapter.” Lochte and Reid’s divorce has since gotten messy, with Reid claiming in an August court filing that she found empty baggies of cocaine in their home allegedly left by Lochte. Reid also alleged that she found Lochte inhaling nitrous oxide in front of one of their kids. As a result of the allegations, Reid asked the court to award her sole physical custody of their children. Lochte denied the accusations in a statement to Us, noting that while he did succumb to substance abuse after his 2023 car accident, he never got high with his kids in the room. “I am not denying that I used drugs in my home, but I adamantly deny ever using drugs in front of or around my children, and I have never driven them while intoxicated,” he said in August. Lochte added, “We all make mistakes in life. We are not defined by those mistakes, but by how we learn from them and the work we put in to overcome them. I am extremely sorry for hurting or disappointing anyone along the way. My focus now is on my recovery, on being the best father I can be, and on moving forward in a way that keeps my kids safe, supported, and loved.” If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
