Former Olympic gold-medal swimmer Ryan Lochte responded to the backlash over his recent engagement.

Lochte got engaged to his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, a kindergarten teacher, earlier this month after 14 months of dating. 

The announcement came just one year after Lochte and his now ex-wife, Kayla Rae Reid, announced their divorce in June 2025.

But since the divorce has not been finalized, some social media users said that Lochte legally turned to his new partner is too fast.

Lochte pushed back against those being critical.

“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,” Lochte wrote Tuesday on his Instagram story, per the Daily Mail.

“Molly and I are realizing this may just be the beginning of a very tough and exhausting road. Prayers appreciated while we navigate this new reality. It seems someone wants to make sure this chapter isn’t quite done with me yet.”

Lochte and Reid split after seven years of marriage and they share three children.

In March 2026, Reid hinted on her “Comeback Era” podcast that Lochte dated Gillihan while still married.

“They’ve been happy for a very long time. Very long time, for many years. They go way back,” Reid alleged.

Lochte has since denied these claims, saying that he began dating Gillihan after the divorce was announced while living alone. 

Lochte was one of the best swimmers while competing from 2004-21.

The Team USA swimmer won 12 medals overall in his Olympic career, including six golds.

He was part of the world record team in the 4×200-meter freestyle long-course, setting the mark at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. 

But his career has not been without controversy.

During the 2016 Summer Olympics, Lochte and teammates got into trouble at a Rio de Janeiro gas station for allegedly urinating outside and destroying a poster, while fabricating a story about armed robbers.

He was later suspended from competing for 14 months in 2018 for an unauthorized intravenous infusion. 

Lochte now works as an assistant swimming coach for Missouri State.