Ryan Lochte Thanks Fans in First Video Since Divorce News: ‘Rough Day for Me’
Ryan Lochte is grateful for all the support he’s been receiving lately.
The 12-time Olympic medalist took to Instagram on Thursday, June 5, to thank everyone who checked in on him amid his divorce to Kayla Rae Reid.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone that wrote a message, reached out to me — just open arms. It means a lot to me,” he said in a video he posted of him in a car with his kids on his Instagram stories.
“Yesterday was a rough day for me, but, like always in life, you’ve got to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward, so, that’s what I’m doing,” he continued.
Lochte then expressed his gratitude for his “second family,” who sent him a “beautiful card” and a “basket full of candy.” He said his son, Caiden, who turns 8 this June, already started eating the treats.
Caiden even showed an opened box of Whoppers to confirm it was true, which made his dad smile.
“Yup, thank you, guys. I love you, guys,” Lochte said.
Above the video, the athlete wrote “Love y’all” in all-white letters.
Lochte shares Caiden, his 5-year-old daughter, Liv Rae, and his baby girl Georgia June with Reid.
On June 4, Reid announced they were divorcing when she shared a lengthy statement on Instagram.
“Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” she wrote. “…For me, leaving was an act of love — for those around me and for myself.”
TODAY.com has also confirmed that she filed for a dissolution of marriage in Florida in March, according to documents that we obtained.
Regarding the news, Lochte also commented on his Instagram, posting about his split with Reid.
“I want to take a moment to acknowledge what Kayla shared. This past year has brought major changes for both of us as we’ve come to the difficult decision to end our marriage,” he said. “I’m deeply grateful for the life we’ve built together and especially for the love we share for our three children,” he said.
“Although this decision hasn’t been easy, I believe it’s the right step toward peace and well-being for us both. I remain committed to healing, growth, and co-parenting with care and respect as we move forward separately,” the swimmer added.
