Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has taken an assistant coaching position with Missouri State University, a move that comes after a challenging period in his personal life.
The twelve-time Olympic medallist has spoken candidly about his battles with depression, drug use, and a difficult divorce.
Lochte’s Mental Health Struggles
Lochte revealed that he experienced crippling depression, particularly after the 2021 Olympic trials, to the point where he struggled to get out of bed some days.
“After the 2021 Olympic trials, I was in a very big depression,” he said. “My mental health was gone and the household that I was living in, it was toxic and it wasn’t good for me.
He also stated that someone close to him would say, ‘You’re worthless, you’re a loser. You need to get up and get a job,’ which exacerbated his feelings of being lost.
Substance Use and Recovery
Following a car accident in 2023, Lochte turned to alcohol and drugs as a means of escape.
“I just did it to escape the hell that I was living in,” he admits, specifying that he used “mostly weed and cocaine.”
He has since attended rehab and is in therapy, and says he now only drinks occasionally and does not use drugs.
Rio Scandal and Fallout
Lochte identifies the scandal at the 2016 Rio Olympics as a major turning point. He and three teammates, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, and Jimmy Feigen, were caught lying about being robbed at gunpoint after they had vandalised a gas station bathroom.
The fallout from the incident included lost sponsorships and a 10-month suspension. He lost major sponsors including Ralph Lauren and Speedo, which cost him about $2 million a year.
“It was the biggest wake-up call,” he said. “It was the biggest fall that I’ve ever had and I fell into a black hole and I couldn’t get out. And I tried to climb out and then once I got out, I got knocked back down…It happened multiple times after 2016.
Finding Stability and a New Role
Lochte is currently in the midst of a divorce from Kayla Rae Reid, with whom he has three children: Caiden Zane, Liv Rae, and Georgia June. He has found love again with Molly Gillihan, whom he credits with helping him get back on his feet.
He hopes to marry Gillihan soon.
Lochte is now working as an assistant coach at Missouri State University, earning $30,000 a year.
“No-one ever taught me what happens when you become famous or when you get all this money,” he added, “No one ever told me about financial literacy. No one ever told me about ever when you’re on top of th