Ryan Lochte is appreciative of the support he’s received following his split from wife Kayla Rae Reid.
“Just want to say thank you to everyone who wrote a message, reached out to me, just open arms. It means a lot to me,” the Olympian, 40, said in a video shared via his Instagram Story on Thursday, June 5. “Yesterday was a rough day for me, but like always in life, you gotta put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. So that’s what I’m doing.”
Lochte also thanked loved ones who sent him a thoughtful gift amid the tough time.
“To my second family that sent me this beautiful card and a basket full of candy that now my son is eating,” Lochte shared while holding up a nearly empty carton of Whoppers. “Thank you guys, I love you guys.”
Earlier this week, Reid, 33, announced that she filed for divorce from Lochte after seven years of marriage.
“Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” she wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, June 4. “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.”
Reid continued: “Sometimes we face trials we didn’t choose or see coming. And in those moments, we’re forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children and our future. I’ve come to understand that staying isn’t always the most loving decision someone can make. For me, leaving was an act of love — for those around me and myself.”
Lochte and Reid tied the knot in 2018. The pair share three children: Caiden, 7, Liv, 5, and Georgia, 23 months.
Following Reid’s post, Lochte broke his silence on their separation.
“This past year has brought major changes for both of us as we’ve come to the difficult decision to end our marriage. I’m deeply grateful for the life we’ve built together and especially for the love we share for our three children,” he wrote in an Instagram statement. “Although this decision hasn’t been easy, I believe it’s the right step toward peace and well-being for us both.”
Lochte added that he is “committed to healing, growth and coparenting with care and respect” as he and Reid navigate their “new chapter.”
