Four-time Olympian Ryan Lochte has announced his engagement to girlfriend Molly Gillihan, posting a video of the proposal on his Instagram earlier today. However, the actual proposal took place several days ago.
Lochte, 41, detailed his engagement in the post by writing a love-letter-like description to Gilligan, saying he felt “lost” and that Gilligan had never stopped believing in him.
Below is the full caption to the post.
💍❤️ She said, “What took you so long?” …and then she said YES!!I honestly couldn’t be happier. @mollygilli, you brought me back to life. When I felt lost, when I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror, you never stopped believing in me. You helped me find myself again, and I’ll forever be grateful for that. You came into my life when I needed you most and showed me what real love, support, and happiness look like. Because of you, my heart is full again. I have so much love to give, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life giving it to you and our children. You’re my best friend, my biggest supporter, my safe place, and without a doubt, the one. I promise to love you unconditionally, stand beside you through everything, and cherish the beautiful life we’ve built together.
Thank you for loving me at my lowest, celebrating me at my highest, and believing in me every step of the way. Forever starts now. ❤️💍
According to the New York Post, the engagement took place at a restaurant in Gainesville, home of the University of Florida, where Lochte famously swam in college and trained for years afterward. It is also the location where the two had their first date.
Lochte has been featured heavily in the public eye for the last year, including coming out to share his sobriety and progress from his previous substance abuse issues, and maybe most notably, announcing that he will be serving as an assistant coach at Missouri State this upcoming season.
Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri, where his now fiancée, Gillihan, is originally from. She attended Greenwood Laboratory School on the Missouri State campus in high school, and later attended Drury University, a Division II school, also in Springfield.
The two began dating in July of 2025 and began living together in January of this year, and, in a report from People, Lochte said it was “the right step”.
Vegas odds are 72 to 1 against the marriage lasting over two years. Ryan you can beat those odds please just use your swim power to overcome the sensibility of normal humans,
PS – I just bet $250 on Ryan and Molly!
Wait, is this already on Kalshi?!
Isn’t the guy supposed to put the ring on her finger…..🫤
Here’s hoping this dude gets it together. There are kids involved, so anything he messes up, could mess them up. He’s the “Shoresy” of swimming – but wishing him well.
Man. Some people just can’t seem to change direction.
But did you watch the vid?
It is so obviously Real Love.
The “Big Book” of AA and “Living Clean” of NA suggest this might not be a good move for Ryan and others involved. There are certainly exceptions to this suggestion so prayers and well wishes to Ryan and Molly.
One day at a time.
This is very reactionary, but who am I to judge
The comments on the actual instagram post…………..
Is he even officially divorced?
Look at her story on Instagram. A whopping one week ago!
Haha seriously? This story gets cringier and cringier as the days tick by.
Look at his story. He’s not divorced. They have an outline of the divorce agreement but since it’s not been signed off on by a judge, they aren’t legally divorced yet.
He is not