Kayla Reid and Ryan Lochte spent the last year speaking negatively about each other in the press after announcing their plans to divorce.
Kayla alleged that the 12x Olympic medalist cheated on her, while Ryan accused the former Playboy Playmate of tearing him down so much that it affected his mental health.
After finalizing their split, Ryan has moved on with a new lover, Molly, and Kayla is shedding more light on what she says were some of the darkest years of her life when they were together.
Reid and Lochte married in 2018 after dating for two years. Despite their years together in the spotlight and their image as a polished, well-mannered couple, Reid said their relationship was far from perfect behind closed doors.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Reid reflected on her marriage with Lochte and pointed back to a journal she kept while they were together. She recalled writing a specific note in that journal that read, “Our marriage is a ticking time bomb.”
After finalizing their divorce in July 2026, Reid told the outlet that she’s grateful to be in a better place. “I don’t think it was a love anyone deserved,” she said.
Kayla Reid Said She Was Confused During Her Relationship With Ryan Lochte
Lochte and Reid’s marriage struggles were spotlighted on social media over the last year, according to several reports from The Blast. During Reid’s chat with PEOPLE, she told the outlet that there were several things in her marriage with Lochte that she didn’t approve of, including his alleged drinking problems, drug use, and incessant cheating.
Reid stated that the chaos was so constant that she sometimes thought she was living in an “alternate universe” and could never tell whether her perception was reality. Reid explained that, at times, she thought she was living a “good” life. “But there were a lot of things that I didn’t know were happening. It’s a question that I actually have: What was real? What wasn’t?” she added.
Ryan Lochte Admits To Making ‘Mistakes’ In His Marriage With Reid
In response to Reid’s latest statements, Lochte admitted to making “mistakes” in his marriage and said he previously spoke out about them to help him move forward. “Looking back, I wasn’t ready to be a husband or the man my family deserved at that point in my life,” he said.
While he admitted he’s “incredibly grateful” for his children, calling them the “greatest gift to come from that chapter of my life,” he vowed not to engage in the “back-and-forth” about his divorce with his ex-wife.
Reid Previously Said She Was Not In A ‘Good Place’ With Lochte
According to a previous report from The Blast, Reid slammed Lochte in the media over his alleged affair with his “mistress.” She also said that her relationship with Lochte following their divorce announcement left them in a bad place.
“I really pray that he becomes the father our kids deserve,” she said candidly, adding that she tries to avoid all communication with Lochte unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Reid’s statement came months after she posted on Instagram about her plans to divorce Lochte. In that post, the Florida-based real estate agent said that deciding to split was a “hard decision” she reached after much prayer and reflection. “I’ve been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing; not from fresh, open wounds,” she said.
Lochte Said ‘Bigger And Better Things’ Are Coming After Getting Engaged To His New Partner
Weeks before finalizing his divorce from Reid, Lochte became engaged to his fiancée, Molly Gillihan. The special moment occurred on June 19, 2026, at a Florida eatery, according to The Blast.
Lochte said that “bigger and better things” were coming to his life following the engagement, including his and Gillihan’s big move to Missouri and his new coaching job as an assistant at a state university.
“We needed a bigger home to support our blended family, and we’re focused on creating a loving, stable environment for all of our children,” Lochte said about the move, adding that his new connection with Gillihan felt natural.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he shared. “And it was God’s way of saying enough is enough between both of you, between me and Kayla, of just being miserable and not happy and not living our best life. So we got separated and now I’m living my best life.”
