Ryan Lochte is doubling down on his previous remark that he “barely knew” Kayla Lochte when they got married as he reacted to his estranged wife posting their wedding vows on social media.
Posting a statement via his Instagram on Thursday, December 18, Ryan, 41, clapped back at backlash he’s received and addressed Kayla’s post amid the former couple’s messy divorce.
“Navigating personal challenges in public can be incredibly tough, and I am thankful for the opportunity to clarify my recent post about my ex-wife. I understand my words have sparked a lot of backlash, and I want to express that my intention was never to hurt anyone but to share my honest feelings,” the swimmer wrote.
He added, “There’s a lot happening behind the scenes that I’ve chosen to keep private to protect my kids. I recognize that Kayla has shared our wedding vows on her page to highlight the authenticity of what we once had. While I respect that, I still stand by my belief that we didn’t fully know each other, and honestly, I didn’t know myself or who I was. I am very thankful for our three children and the love we shared at that time.”
Ryan and Kayla, 34, who share three children — son Caiden Zane, 8, and daughters Liv Rae, 6, and Georgia June, 2 — announced their divorce in June after Kayla initially filed in March.
In the post, Ryan acknowledged that his behavior was not always the best while married to Kayla and he credited getting professional help as helping him do the inner work on himself.
“Therapy has been a transformative journey for me, helping me uncover insights about myself that I previously overlooked. I’m making a tremendous effort to separate myself from the past, as I’ve truly moved on,” he continued. “I deeply regret any disappointment I’ve caused to those in my life, including the mother of my children. I would be lying if I said I was a good husband. I wasn’t. I’m committed to working on myself every day.”
In the lengthy statement, Ryan also explained why he’s selling his Olympic medals amid financial issues faced by the former couple.
“I also would like to clarify the selling of my medals. I never swam for the gold medals. My passion has always been about being one of the best swimmers in the world. Those medals? They were just the cherry on top of an incredible journey,” Ryan wrote in the post. “With 90 international medals – including Olympics, world championships, Pan Pacs, and Pan Am Games – I’ve been fortunate to achieve more than any swimmer out there. But what means the most to me is what I’ve done with them. I’ve given away medals to fans and young kids in the stands, because it’s never been just about me. It’s about inspiring the next generation and helping them chase their dreams. The memories, the hard work, and the connection with all of you are what I treasure the most.”
Kayla uploaded a video of the pair’s vows at their 2018 wedding via Instagram on December 11 following news that Ryan would publish a tell-all memoir. “Just going to leave this here 🙂,” she captioned the post, which showed Ryan making an emotional speech about her.
For her part, Kayla has also been candid about how difficult the breakdown of her marriage has been.
“I’m currently navigating a complex divorce, and let me tell you — divorce can feel like being frozen in time,” Kayla wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on October 24. “I’m using this season to rebuild, rediscover who I am, and chase my dreams with clarity and courage.”
