Kayla Rae Reid Recalls Unexpected Turn of Events Following Ryan Lochte's New Romance

In an exclusive interview with People, Kayla Rae Reid, the ex-wife of Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, revealed an unexpected twist in their post-divorce lives. It appears that Lochte's new fiancée, Molly Gillihan, was once a part of Reid's circle of friends before they began dating the swimmer, according to Reid's account. "Molly was someone I knew from Gainesville.

I’ll use the term 'friend' lightly," said Reid, 35. "She was seeking help with a kids' café venture, so I assisted her with some real estate work. We shared many mutual friends and she frequently reached out with encouragement and offers to hang out." However, as their divorce process unfolded, Reid claims Gillihan started dating Lochte weeks into the proceedings, which left her feeling betrayed.

"It's quite disturbing when I think about it now," said Reid, who claimed that Gillihan had been offering words of encouragement and support during the divorce process. "She was sending me messages of how I would find an amazing man, complimenting my beauty, and labeling Lochte as a coward. Little did I know she was dating him behind my back." Before making their divorce public in June 2025, Reid claimed she had confided in Gillihan about her personal struggles.

They reportedly spoke for an hour and a half on the phone, with Gillihan knowing about the challenges Reid was facing. "Lo and behold, she was dating my husband," Reid claimed. In a separate interview with People, Gillihan confirmed that Lochte had reached out to her in 2019 while he was still married. According to Gillihan, she made it clear that she wasn't interested in pursuing a relationship with a married man at the time.

Gillihan claimed Reid called her in 2025 asking whether Lochte had been contacting or seeing her. Gillihan said she mostly listened to Reid's concerns because she understood how painful divorce could be. However, looking back, Gillihan regretted taking the call and believes it was a mistake. "At the time, I felt for both of them and wanted to ensure their relationship was truly over before considering anything," Gillihan explained.

"In hindsight, taking that phone call was the biggest mistake I could have made. Lochte didn’t reach out to me again until he was living independently and the divorce proceedings had already begun." Us Weekly has reached out to Lochte for comment on Reid's interview. In March, Lochte dismissed rumors that he cheated on his ex-wife with Gillihan. He stated, "I absolutely was not unfaithful to my ex-wife.

And I have no excuse but to continue saying I have grown and learned so much from my past, and I am working on myself and my character every single day." Lochte and Gillihan got engaged in June and currently reside in Missouri. Reid is based in Florida and has primary custody of their three children. Reid, who hosts the "The Comeback Era" podcast with friend and Bachelor alum Caroline Lunny, stated that she is focusing on rebuilding her life and is excited for what the future holds.

As for Gillihan — who has three children from past relationships — she believes Lochte has become a stronger, healthier, and more honest man. As a result, she is looking forward to building a happy and healthy future with her blended family. "My focus has never been on the past," said Gillihan. "It's on the life Ryan and I are creating together, our family, and crafting a bright future for all of our children."