Ryan Lochte, the swimmer who won six Olympic gold medals while earning 12 medals overall, and former Playboy Playmate Kayla Reid are ending their marriage.
Their announcements arrived on Instagram on Wednesday, one after the other, but were noticeably different in tone.
“Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” wrote Reid, who has three young children with Lochte.
“I’ve come to understand that staying isn’t always the most loving decision someone can make,” she added. “For me, leaving was an act of love ― for those around me and for myself.”
Reid, 33, did not mention Lochte in the entire post.
Lochte, 40, struck what appeared to be a more mutual stance in his message later:
“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 continued, “Although this decision hasn’t been easy I believe it’s the right step toward peace and well-being for us both. I remain committed to healing, growth and co-parenting with care and respect as we move forward separately.”
People reported that Reid had actually filed for divorce months earlier.
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The couple married in 2018, nearly two years after Lochte’s impressive Olympics career spanning four Summer Games. He competed in the shadow of Michael Phelps but remains one of the most decorated Olympians in the history of swimming.
He was also part of one of its biggest controversies when he initially claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Games in 2016, but officials said it was Lochte and others who had vandalized a gas station and were confronted by security guards.
