Ryan Lochte's Timing Problem: Engaged While Still Legally Married

Olympian Ryan Lochte learned a hard lesson about divorce paperwork this week: saying you’re divorced and actually being divorced are two very different things. The 41-year-old swimmer got engaged to Molly Gillihan on Friday, June 19, at the same Gainesville, Florida restaurant where they’d had their first date—complete with rose petals leading to their table. Romantic, sure. But the timing? That’s where things get messy.

Here’s the catch: Lochte is still legally married to Kayla Rae Reid, his estranged wife of seven years. While he and Reid reached a divorce agreement, a judge hasn’t officially signed off yet. On Monday, June 22, Lochte took to Instagram to clarify his earlier claim that he was divorced, writing:“Correction: Apparently I’m not allowed to say I’m divorced until every signature is in place. So, while we’ve reached an agreement, the judge hasn’t officially signed off yet. My mistake for thinking the hard part was over.”

It’s a reality check that highlights just how long divorce proceedings can drag on, even after both parties agree on terms. Lochte and Reid split in June 2025 after nearly a decade together, and they share three children. In his post, Lochte acknowledged what’s clearly becoming apparent: this next chapter with Gillihan might be rockier than he’d hoped.“Molly and I are realizing this may just be the beginning of a very tough and exhausting road,”he wrote, asking followers for prayers as the Christian song“Trust in God”by Elevation Worship played in the background.

For her part, Reid addressed the situation in her own Instagram Story, noting she’s blocked certain people so she doesn’t see their posts.“You guys just like to inform me unfortunately,”she wrote, indicating she’s aware of the engagement but choosing to keep her distance. She did confirm she’s“close”to being officially divorced, even if the paperwork isn’t final.

Gillihan, 37, hasn’t shied away from her feelings. In her engagement announcement on Sunday, June 21, she wrote about how deeply in love she is with Lochte, calling him her“safe place, my greatest supporter, my best friend and the love of my life.”Meanwhile, Lochte praised Gillihan for bringing him“back to life”after a period of feeling lost, sharing that when he“didn’t recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror,”she never stopped believing in him.

The couple went public with their relationship in July 2025, just a month after Lochte’s split from Reid became news. Now, barely a year later, they’re engaged. It’s a quick timeline that raises eyebrows, but it’s also a reminder that life doesn’t always wait for legal documents to catch up with emotional reality.