Ryan Lochte is coming clean about his journey with sobriety.
“I wanted to share some positive updates in my life and what’s going on,” Lochte, 41, shared via Instagram on Friday, August 29. “I’m so happy right now, and the big reason is that I’m 54 days sober. Yes!”
According to the Olympian, a severe car accident in 2023 left him in a “really dark place” where he experienced “depression, loneliness and feeling like I was giving up in life.”
As a result, Lochte said it “led me down a road of substance abuse. With everything going on in my life, I needed to make a change.”
“I checked myself into a Florida recovery center,” Lochte continued. “The staff has been incredible. They helped me realize substance abuse isn’t a solution. It’s just a distraction that makes things worse.”
Now, the gold medalist is feeling “so much better” and “thinking clearly.”
“I’m motivated and I’m moving forward,” he said. “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.”
In June, Lochte faced another major life change when his wife, Kayla Rae Reid, filed for divorce after seven years of marriage. The couple shares three children: Caiden, 8, Liv, 5, and Georgia, 2.
One month after the split was announced, Lochte went Instagram official with his new girlfriend, Molly Gillihan.
“I want people to understand that Molly didn’t take me away from my ex-wife,” Lochte told the Daily Mail on July 7. “She didn’t take me away from my kids. We got a divorce and I left. I moved down the street because I wanted to be in my kids’ lives and I will always be in my kids’ lives.”
As Lochte moves forward with his divorce, things appear to be stronger than ever with Gillihan.
“Happiness looks good on me,” he wrote via Instagram on Thursday, August 28, while posing with his girlfriend. “Can’t hear the outside noise 😉 All smiles with you even thru obstacles thrown at us. ❤️❤️❤️ @mollygilli #springfield #peaceful.”
The swimmer also offered encouragement to anyone going through a personal struggle in their own life.
“I am bettering myself each day, so if anyone out there is struggling, please know you’re not alone in this,” Lochte shared via his latest Instagram. “It happens to good people and there are people out there that care about you. … Let’s do this together.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Lochte’s manager for additional comment.
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).
