Ryan Lochte made a name for himself as a competitive swimmer and 12-time Olympic medalist, who still holds multiple world records. But these days, he spends his time caring for his three children and recovering.
In an Instagram post Aug. 28, Lochte shared a video documenting the last nine months of his recovery since he was involved in a major car accident in November 2023.
“Life’s setbacks may knock you down, but they set the stage for an even stronger comeback!” the caption read.
The 40-year-old athlete competed in his first Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. He went on to compete in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, as well — collecting three bronze, three silver and six gold medals.
Following the Rio 2016 Olympics, Lochte faced some controversy. NBC News reported that USA Swimming and the United States Olympic Committee suspended Lochte for 10 months after he claimed he and other U.S. swimmers were pulled over and had a gun pointed at their head. Brazilian police investigated the incident and said they found that the swimmers had vandalized a gas station and were then confronted by armed security guards. Police called Lochte's accounts of the night untruthful and the athlete later told NBC News that he “over-exaggerated that story.”
A few years later, Lochte was suspended again — this time for 14 months — by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after he uploaded a photo of him receiving an intravenous injection, ESPN reported.
In 2021, he was hoping to make a comeback. But, Lochte didn’t qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, marking the first time he missed the Summer Games in over 15 years.
After hearing the disappointing news, Lochte discussed his future as an athlete in a video uploaded to Instagram in June 2021.
“I’ve had a couple days at home to get my emotions in line, because after Olympic trials my emotions have been a rollercoaster ride — up, down, all around,” he said.
He filmed the message at the University of Florida, where his career began. Lochte thanked his fans, family and friends for their constant support.
“So, I didn’t want this video to be a sappy video. I’m not done. I’m not retiring,” he said.
He continued, “There’s so much more I want to do in the sport of swimming, whether it’s in the pool or outside of the pool trying to grow the sport, because the love and passion that I have — I want to grow the sport. I want to put swimming in people’s living rooms all the time. So, I’m still going to be doing that. I’m still going to be in the sport. And I’m still going to be trying to teach kids how to swim because I’m a big kid myself and I love kids.”
He also wished Team USA good luck.
Lochte has followed through with his plans and frequently holds swimming clinics. Some of the children he has been teaching to swim are his three kids — Caiden Zane, 7, Liv Rae, 5, and Georgia June, 1 — whom he shares with wife Kayla Rae Reid.
He spoke about balancing being a dad and an athlete in an interview with People in 2021.
“It’s hard juggling because I want to be the best dad,” he shared. “After I’m done with practice, I can’t go home and take a nap.”
Lochte added, “I have to be ‘Super Dad’ when I get home. A lot of my competitors do recovery and stuff like that, but I’m limited because my most important thing is being a dad.”
Read on to learn more about Lochte’s relationship with Reid and his life as a dad of three.
He married model Kayla Rae Reid in 2018
Lochte fueled rumors that he was dating former Playboy model Kayla Rae Reid in 2016 after he shared a photo of them together in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Snapchat, People reported at the time.
The picture came after Reid posted a cute photo of them embracing in April 2016 and a video of them boxing together a few months later in June 2016.
By October 2016, they were engaged. Lochte celebrated the engagement news by posting a photo of them kissing while Reid showed off her ring on Instagram. “Memories forever!!! #thelochtes #LA,” he captioned the post.
She also uploaded a picture from the proposal, which took place in Malibu, California.
“Speechless. Absolutely beautiful. So in love with YOU,” she gushed.
In January 2018, Lochte’s rep confirmed to TODAY that the Olympic swimmer and Reid had tied the knot. They had an intimate courthouse ceremony in Gainesville, Florida. They had a second wedding in the fall of that same year.
In September 2018, People reported that Lochte and Reid held an outdoor wedding at Morrow Ranch in Palm Springs, California, and invited 100 guests. Son Caiden Zane Lochte served as a ring bearer.
In honor of their fifth anniversary in 2023, he uploaded pictures from their second nuptials. “Happy Anniversary my love! The past 5 years we’ve been married have been the happiest of my life. Love you!” he said.
Ryan Lochte's 3 kids with wife Kayla Rae Reid
Reid and Lochte became parents for the first time when son Caiden Zane Lochte arrived on June 8, 2017.
The proud dad shared multiple snaps of the newborn on Instagram. In one photo, he cradled Caiden and in another Reid held their son.
“Now this is what it’s all about..... Family!!!!!!!” he captioned a family picture on June 14, 2017.
At just 2 months old, Lochte was already teaching his son some different swimming styles, like freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly.
“Have to start him early haha, and he’s loving it,” he wrote beside the adorable video on Instagram.
Their second child, daughter Liv Rae Lochte, was born June 17, 2019.
The athlete uploaded a picture of him helping Caiden hold his baby sister shortly after Reid gave birth.
“Miracle #2 witnessed,” he said in the caption. “Liv Rae Lochte was born today at 10:20am. 7lbs 8oz. At 20inch long. She is perfect in every way!”
A few years later, they decided to become a family of five. Reid and Lochte announced in December 2022 that their third child was on the way.
Baby girl Georgia June Lochte followed her older siblings and also arrived at the start of the summer. Us Weekly reported that the couple’s second daughter was born on June 21, 2023.
Before giving birth, Reid told the magazine, “(We’re) thrilled. We are so excited. Ryan is such a great dad; I can’t wait to see him as a father to 3. He’s so great with kids in general, they always gravitate towards him.”
She continued, “I am excited as well, (but) I am more of the worrier, the strict one, the not-as-fun parent, let’s just say. It makes for a good balance.”
He has ventured into reality television
In between workouts and swimming lessons, Lochte has dabbled in reality television.
He competed on Season Two of “Celebrity Big Brother” in January 2019 alongside Joey Lawrence, Tamar Braxton, Kandi Burruss and more celebrities. But, the other houseguests worried he would be a competition threat, so he was evicted on Day 13.
Lochte and Reid played for the Jorge Nation Foundation on “Celebrity Family Feud” in September 2019. The Lochte family won the $25,000 grand prize for their charity.
More recently, he was cast on Season One of “The Traitors” in January 2023. Lochte was selected as a “Faithful” on the show, but he didn’t make it far. The “Traitors” secretly decided to “murder” him in Episode Five.
He's recovering from a major car crash
On Aug. 28, Lochte shared a video to Instagram tracking his recovery after he was involved in a major car crash in November 2023.
In a joint post with his wife, Lochte shared a video to Instagram in which he’s attempting to slowly walk in a hospital.
In the same clip, a young boy, who appears to be Lochte’s son, is pushing him in a wheelchair, and the swimmer gets a line of stitches checked out. The final moments of the video show Lochte running down the street.
“Life’s setbacks may knock you down, but they set the stage for an even stronger comeback!” the caption read. “This guy has been putting in the work one step at a time, literally!”
The 12-time Olympic medalist appeared on the "Athletes Only" podcast with host Kyle Millis in January, where he spoke about the accident. Until Lochte is “fully recovered,” Millis said he would only release a brief clip from the interview.
In the video, Lochte explained that he had been on his way to pick up his kids from school when a person driving in front of him swerved out of the way of a truck parked in the road.
When he tried to also swerve to avoid the vehicle, he hit a garbage truck. Lochte said he thought he was not breathing and that he died.
The swimmer added that he broke his femur, the bone that runs along the thigh, “in half.” He also said there was blood gushing from his head and his car was totaled.
“Thank God that I only had a broken femur and a couple stitches,” Lochte said.
Earlier in the emotional video, Lochte explained that he still fears driving to appointments and said he has visions of white lights flashing. Through tears, Lochte remembered “not knowing that I’d wake up and see my family again.”
“But now when I wake up, I’m so thankful,” he continued, adding, “your life can be over.”
