Ryan Lochte, the renowned Olympic swimmer, has embarked on a journey of personal transformation following a challenging year. At 41, he took a significant step towards renewal by getting baptized on Sunday, November 2. This spiritual rebirth comes in the wake of his divorce from Kayla Rae Reid and a stint in substance abuse rehabilitation earlier in the year.

Lochte shared this pivotal moment with his supporters through Instagram, posting videos of the baptism ceremony. In the clips, he is seen stepping into a silver baptismal tub before being immersed in water, symbolizing his commitment to a new chapter in his life. Expressing his reflections, Lochte stated, “I love sharing my life with my fans and followers. During this period of personal growth, I’ve come to realize that what truly matters is how God perceives me.”

The swimmer further conveyed his renewed faith by expressing, “I made the decision to rededicate my life to Jesus, and today I was baptized! My heart is overflowing with love and happiness, and I am profoundly grateful for all that God has done and will continue to do in my life.”

Meanwhile, the aftermath of his personal life changes continues to unfold. In a development exclusive to Us Weekly, it has been reported that Kayla Lochte, Ryan’s estranged wife, is seeking transparency in their divorce proceedings. On October 22, she filed court documents demanding access to Ryan’s financial records, issuing subpoenas to various banks to obtain any relevant account information. This move signifies ongoing complexities in the couple’s separation.

Ryan Lochte’s estranged wife, Kayla Lochte, demanded that she be allowed to review the Olympic swimmer’s financial records in their bitter divorce, Us Weekly can exclusively report. On Wednesday, October 22, Kayla filed court docs revealing that she issued subpoenas demanding that various banks produce any bank records pertaining to any account held by Ryan […]

He concluded: “Thank you for all those who have loved and supported me throughout my life, you mean so much to me! @canvas_fl.”

In addition to sharing videos from the actual baptism, Lochte posed for photos with two of his three children, Caiden, 8, and Liv, 6, as well as his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, and what appeared to be two of her kids.

Lochte’s eldest kids, whom he shares with estranged wife Reid, were all smiles as they attended their dad’s big moment at Canvas Church in Florida. (Lochte and Reid, 34, also share daughter Georgia, 2.)

“Congrats!” former Bachelor Sean Lowe replied in the comments, while Lochte’s fans applauded him for being so open and honest about his faith journey.

Lochte’s baptism, which is a Christian tradition to wash away sin, comes two months after he announced he was sober following a stint in a substance abuse program.

“I wanted to share some positive updates in my life and what’s going on,” Lochte shared via Instagram on August 29. “I’m so happy right now, and the big reason is that I’m 54 days sober. Yes!”

After revealing he is more than 54 days sober, former professional athlete Ryan Lochte spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about how he overcame substance abuse, which began after a 2023 car accident. Lochte, 41, told Us, “I fell into a cycle of depression that led to substance abuse.” Back in November 2023, Lochte was involved […]

The retired professional swimmer explained that after being involved in a 2023 car accident he was in a “really dark place” that resulted in feelings of “depression, loneliness and [had him] feeling like [he] was giving up in life.”

Lochte noted that following the crash, his mental state led him “down a road of substance abuse.” Once he realized he “needed to make a change,” the athlete checked into a Florida recovery center.

“I’m motivated and I’m moving forward,” he explained. “I wanted to share this with you guys, especially my fans, because you guys are so important to me. In life, you’re going to get knocked down or hit a roadblock. … It’s not how you get knocked out. It’s how you get back up.”

Lochte’s recovery journey also came amid his and Reid’s ongoing divorce. After seven years of marriage, Reid filed for divorce from Lochte in June.

“Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” Reid wrote via Instagram at the time. “I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing and challenging seasons of my life. I’ve been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing — not from fresh, open wounds.”

Lochte released his own statement in June, writing via social media, “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 coparenting with care and respect as we move forward separately. Thank you to our family and friends for your continued support. It truly means a lot as we begin this new chapter.”

Lochte and Reid’s divorce has since gotten messy, with Reid claiming in an August court filing that she found empty baggies of cocaine in their home allegedly left by Lochte. Reid also alleged that she found Lochte inhaling nitrous oxide in front of one of their kids. As a result of the allegations, Reid asked the court to award her sole physical custody of their children.

Ryan Lochte’s estranged wife, Kayla Lochte, claimed she found empty baggies of cocaine allegedly left by the Olympian in their home and caught him inhaling nitrous oxide in front of one of their kids, Us Weekly can exclusively report. On August 21, Kayla, 34, filed court documents making shocking claims against Ryan, 41, in their […]

Lochte denied the accusations in a statement to Us, noting that while he did succumb to substance abuse after his 2023 car accident, he never got high with his kids in the room.

“I am not denying that I used drugs in my home, but I adamantly deny ever using drugs in front of or around my children, and I have never driven them while intoxicated,” he said in August.

Lochte added, “We all make mistakes in life. We are not defined by those mistakes, but by how we learn from them and the work we put in to overcome them. I am extremely sorry for hurting or disappointing anyone along the way. My focus now is on my recovery, on being the best father I can be, and on moving forward in a way that keeps my kids safe, supported, and loved.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).