Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte is facing criticism about his looks after sharing a video announcing his new job.
In the clip, the former athlete told his followers he was excited to take on a new role as an assistant swim coach at a Missouri college.
Ryan Lochte’s good news, however, was overshadowed by chatter from fans theorizing what, if anything, could be wrong with him.
According to Front Office Sports, Lochte has accepted a new role as the assistant swim coach at Missouri State. The swimmer’s contract is worth a reported $30,000, running from August 2026 to June 2027.
Lochte’s contract includes options for bonuses, such as $750 for an MVC men’s and women’s Conference Championship or Co-Championship, $500 for each NCAA Championship individual qualifier, and $500 for each relay team that qualifies for the NCAA Championship.
Lochte’s new position pays around $34 an hour, according to the outlet, and also comes with benefits and incentives.
While he’s making significantly less than Missouri State’s head coach ($85,074), Lochte’s rate is on par with that of other assistant coaches, such as Anna Miller, who made $33,000, and Lee Smothers, who made $32,960.
Lochte shared the exciting news about his job with his social media followers two days ago, explaining that he had discovered he was more “passionate about coaching” than about competing. “Don’t get me wrong, I had a pretty good swimming career, but honestly, I think I might even be a better swim coach,” he said.
However, a handful of his 984,000 social media followers weren’t really moved by the athlete’s confession. Instead, they were laser-focused on the 41-year-old’s appearance: spiky black hair and a dark beard.
“Thought it was Kash Patel at first,” someone commented, while another said, “Literally does not look like him.”
Another user said, “Wait, he used to be hot! What the heck??” and another added, “Plot twist! This is the Greek version of Ryan.”
Other users went even further, with one tagging Missouri State’s official Instagram account, asking whether they’ve drug tested the former athlete.
Someone else wrote, “Wow!!! Is he OK? Acting weird.”
Ryan Locthe Looking Forward To Training The Next Generation Of Elite Athletes
Lochte spoke about his new role, according to The New York Post, and said coaching is something he values tremendously.
“It’s about more than times and results,” he said. “It’s about helping young men and women build discipline, resilience, and confidence that will carry them far beyond the pool. I’ve lived the highs and the challenges of this sport, and I want to use that perspective to guide them, support them, and help them reach their full potential in and out of the water.”
Lochte’s New Girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, Has Family Ties To Missouri
While the jump to Missouri may seem strange, Lochte has more of a reason to plant his roots there than some may have realized.
Ozark Sports Zone reported that Lochte’s new girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, has family ties to Springfield, Missouri, home to Missouri State’s campus.
According to Lochte, signing on to coach at the Division I school was an easy decision after visiting the state and realizing he fit right in.
“I just fell in love with the place. Not only her family, I love her family to death, they just treated me like home and every place in Springfield was just — it felt so right. I don’t know what it was,” he said. “The food was amazing, there are so many different activities, places to go with your family, and we don’t have that really in Gainesville. We have the college, that’s about it. The food’s not that great … Overall, Missouri is way better.”
Lochte Is Writing A Memoir Amid His Contentious Divorce
According to a previous report from The Blast, Lochte is in the process of writing a new memoir, which will undoubtedly feature more in-depth details about his contentious divorce from the mother of his children, Kayla.
For those who may be unfamiliar, Kayla announced their separation in the summer of 2025, saying, “Sometimes we face trials we didn’t choose or see coming. And in those moments, we’re forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children, and our future. I’ve come to the understanding 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 for myself.”
