Ryan Lochte has been dating Molly Gillihan since 2025, and she has three children from her previous marriage.
Ryan Lochte has officially made a new beginning in 2026. The 12-time Olympic medalist revealed that he and his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, have moved in together, taking their first step towards turning their relationship into a blended family. After Ryan faced a difficult year in 2025 owing to his divorce and personal struggles, the swimming legend has finally found some stability with his new partner, Molly Gillihan, who understands him and shares his values. But the majority of netizens are curious about her background, so let us know everything about it.
Molly Gillihan hails from the Midwest and is a kindergarten teacher by profession, previously married to a Missouri-based doctor. According to The Daily Mail, Molly's divorce was finalised in 2024, and she is the mother of three children, including two daughters, Layla and Maggie, and a son, Oliver. The swimming legend once spoke to the outlet about Molly and praised her for honestly being herself, her personality, and patience, which played a significant role in strengthening their relationship. In his words:
"Molly is true to herself. She has a big heart. She's a kindergarten teacher, so she has the patience of a freaking saint. It's awesome being with her."
Similar to Ryan, Molly balances her work with raising her children. Subsequently, the similarities in their situations have brought them closer. The duo's shared experience as parents enabled them to bond quickly and eventually fall in love. Together, the duo has three kids, including Ryan's three with his ex-wife, Kayla Rae Reid, and Molly's three from her previous marriage. Sharing his views on their idea of building a blended family, Ryan said to People:
"I fell in love with someone who shares those same values and who has three children of her own. Together, we're a family of six kids. She's my best friend, our kids have formed an incredible bond, and it became clear that being together under one roof was the right next step for all of us."
Ryan Lochte met Molly Gillihan at their children's school in Gainesville, Florida. According to the Olympic medalist, he did not date Molly before his separation from his ex-wife, Kayla Reid. Consequently, unlike some rumours suggested, there was no infidelity, and neither Molly nor anyone else did anything wrong. He clarified that she did not pursue him; he pursued her. In fact, it began long after he received the divorce papers, left his home, and began living alone. Soon, the duo became Instagram official in July 2025 when Ryan shared photos of them over the Fourth of July weekend. Since then, Molly and their kids have frequently appeared on his social media handle.
Ryan Lochte's new beginning comes less than a year after he had a difficult split from his ex-wife, and former Playboy Playmate, Kayla Rae Reid. She filed for divorce in March 2025 after 7 years of marriage. Although the duo did not explicitly share the cause for their separation, Daily Mail asserted that the separation occurred after a period of serious personal challenges, including financial strain, alleged infidelity, and Ryan's substance abuse struggles. Once, Kayla also referenced "betrayal" in a social media post following their breakup. Sharing his views on the same, Ryan said:
"I would be lying if I said I was a good husband; I wasn't," he said in a previous statement. "I'm committed to working on myself every day."
What do you think about Ryan Lochte making a new start in 2026 by moving in with his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan?
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