Ryan Lochte Shares Heartfelt Post About Missing His Kids on Christmas Eve Following Split
Ryan Lochte appears to be enjoying Christmas Eve without his three kids.
The 41-year-old Olympian shared on his Instagram Story on December 24 that he was having “soo much fun” downhill innertubing with his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan. Although he was having a great time, Lochte expressed that he wished his children — son Caiden Zane, 8, and daughters Liv Rae, 6, and Georgia June, 2 — were there to share in the festive fun.
“Missing my kiddos,” he noted. “They would love this.”
Ryan posted videos of him and Molly, 37, sliding down a hill in their inner tubes, and shared a cheerful family photo that same day. He made his relationship with Molly Instagram official in August by sharing a romantic pic of them together.
“Happiness looks good on me. Can’t hear the outside noise 😉 All smiles with you even through obstacles thrown at us,” he added.
Ryan went public with this relationship just two months after his estranged wife, Kayla Rae Lochte (née Reid), announced that she was filing for divorce following seven years of marriage.
“Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” Reid, 33, shared on Instagram on June 4. “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.”
Kayla elaborated that she made the choice to end her marriage after “trials” that she “didn’t choose or see coming.”
“In those moments, we’re forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children, and our future,” she explained. “I’ve come to understand that staying isn’t always the most loving decision someone can make. For me, leaving was an act of love — for those around me and myself.”
She further shared, “Living with transparency and authenticity has shaped who I am today. I’ll continue this journey while also guarding the private parts that are unfolding in uncharted territory. I believe God is still at work — even in the breaking, even in the unknown; I choose to believe that new growth can emerge from broken ground.”
In response to reports suggesting that Kayla felt compelled to divorce him due to betrayal, Ryan stated, “Kayla and I both wish to keep this matter private for many reasons, most importantly, to protect our children,” he told People in June. “For that reason, I also won’t be commenting on this matter, nor addressing allegations made by third parties.”
However, Ryan — who told Us Weekly in September that he’d recently celebrated 54 days of sobriety — clarified to the Daily Mail the following month that his new relationship with Molly “didn’t take [him] away from [his] ex-wife.”
“[Molly] wasn’t the reason for my separation from my kids,” he asserted. “We got a divorce, and I left. I moved down the street because I wanted to be involved in my kids’ lives, and I will always be there for them. … There was no infidelity with Molly, absolutely none.”
Ryan pointed out that Kayla was the one who wanted “this divorce in the first place, and now she’s playing this pity party.”
Recently, Kayla seemingly criticized her estranged husband by sharing his wedding vows on Instagram in December.
“Standing by my side during Rio was proof that you love me more than I could ever imagine,” he told her in the resurfaced clip. “Those were the darkest days of my life, and I thank God every day that I had you to pick me up. You kept me going. You pushed me to set new goals, and you gave me a reason to live.”
On the same day, Ryan attempted to clarify “a lot happening behind the scenes” regarding his split from Kayla.
“I recognize that Kayla has shared our wedding vows to highlight the authenticity of what we once had,” he wrote. “While I respect that, I maintain my belief that we didn’t fully know each other, and honestly, I didn’t know myself or who I was. I am truly grateful for our three children and the love we shared at that time.”
Ryan also confirmed plans to sell his Olympic medals due to financial struggles faced by the former couple.
“I want to clarify the selling of my medals. I never swam for the gold medals. My passion has always been about being one of the best swimmers in the world. Those medals? They were merely the cherry on top of an incredible journey,” Ryan explained. “With 90 international medals – including Olympics, world championships, Pan Pacs, and Pan Am Games – I’ve been fortunate to achieve more than any swimmer. But what matters most to me is what I’ve done with them. I’ve given medals to fans and young kids in the stands, as it’s never just been about me. It’s about inspiring the next generation and helping them chase their dreams. The memories, the hard work, and the connection with all of you are what I treasure the most.”
Ryan won six Olympic gold medals throughout his swimming career and stepped away from the sport in 2021 after failing to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
