Ryan Lochte’s new girlfriend has spoken out after the Olympic swimmer’s estranged wife hinted that “betrayal” played a role in their split.
Kayla Rae Reid, Lochte’s estranged wife, sparked speculation about the cause of their breakup when she posted on Instagram on June 27: “Sometimes God allows the betrayal… because it leads to the breakthrough.”
She also shared: “Most people have no idea what I’ve endured. Ignore their opinions. Truth always reveals itself. Divorce isn’t the end of my story. It’s the beginning of my rebirth.”
Lochte, 40, and Reid, 34, quietly separated in March after seven years of marriage and three children: son Caiden, eight, and daughters Liv, six, and Georgia, two.
Reid, who now works as a real estate agent, publicly confirmed the divorce in a June 4 Instagram post, calling it one of the “most painful, revealing, and challenging seasons” of her life, PEOPLE reported.
“I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing, and challenging seasons of my life,” Reid wrote, adding, “It also wouldn’t be fair to other women going through the same thing to make it look like I just moved on easily. This is a process, and I’m still in it.”
A source previously told the outlet that Lochte had “repeated problems with infidelity” during the marriage, saying, “He’s damaged so much of their marriage and he’s broken her heart so many times that she doesn’t know if reconciliation is in their future.”
Lochte has not commented on the allegations, instead saying: “Kayla and I both wish to keep this matter private for many reasons, most importantly, to protect our children.”
Over the Fourth of July weekend, Lochte, who is the third-most decorated swimmer in Olympic history, announced his new relationship with Molly Gillihan after months of keeping his personal life private during the divorce process.
He took to Instagram to share multiple photos of them cozying up and smiling, celebrating with Lochte’s relatives at Daytona Beach.
Gillihan also posted a statement on her private Instagram account, addressing the “betrayal” rumors head-on.
“It’s okay to be so happy that your heart could explode out of your chest and you want to shout it from the rooftops,” she wrote, according to TMZ Sports. “If you’ve felt it, you know this to be true.
“We would not be here if we had anything to hide or if there had been any betrayal that occurred along the way. This little goofball came into my life patiently, sincerely, and honestly. I am choosing him. @ryanlochte," she added
The 12-time Olympic medalist shared no direct comment regarding his estranged wife's “betrayal” post, aligning with his prior statement to maintain privacy “to protect our children".
As the couple moves forward with their new relationship, Reid has emphasized her focus on healing. “This is a process, and I’m still in it,” she shared with her followers.