Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte is publicly thanking his supporters for the outpouring of love he’s received after his estranged wife, Kayla Reid, announced her decision to file for divorce from him in March 2025.

On Instagram, the 12-time Olympic medalist expressed his appreciation to his followers for offering love and support during such a challenging time.

“Just wanna say thank you to everyone that wrote a message, reached out to me,” Lochte, 40, said in a video message, according to PEOPLE. “Just open arms. It means a lot to me. Yesterday was a rough day for me, but, like always in life, you’ve got to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.”

Lochte continued, “And that’s what I’m doing. To my second family that sent me this beautiful card, and a basket full of candy that now my son is eating.”

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“Thank you guys, I love you guys,” he finished.

Days ago, Reid and Lochte made headlines after news broke that the 33-year-old filed for divorce from the swimmer in March 2025.

On social media, Reid, a former Playboy Playmate who is now a Florida real estate agent, said filing for divorce wasn’t easy, describing it as one of the most challenging decisions she’s had to make in her life.

“Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” the mother of three wrote. “I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing, and challenging seasons of my life. I’ve been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing — not from fresh, open wounds.”

She continued, “Sometimes we face trials we didn’t choose or see coming. And in those moments, we’re forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children, and our future. I’ve come to the understanding that staying isn’t always the most loving decision someone can make. For me, leaving was an act of love — for those around me and for myself.”

In her announcement, Reid shared that she was planning to give herself grace as she navigated the challenging months ahead. The social media influencer also asked her followers for “prayers and continued support.”

Lochte, meanwhile, told his followers on Wednesday, June 4, that he was “grateful for the life [Kayla and I] have 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.”

Lochte finished his initial post by thanking his supporters for their love, adding, “It truly means a lot as we begin this new chapter.”

After Reid and Lochte’s relationship first captured media attention in 2016 (the same year the Olympian won gold at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games), the sometimes controversial athlete opened up about the beginning of their romance in a previous interview.

According to Lochte, the pair connected first on Instagram before meeting each other at a bar in Los Angeles. “We reached out and grabbed each other’s hands and were like ‘This is you! Finally.’ And we didn’t want to let go,” Lochte said about their first meeting. “Our friends were dragging us apart, and that was the end of that night.”

Two years later, in 2018, the pair married at their Florida home in front of their oldest child, Caiden.

“I’ve waited for Kayla my whole life,” Lochte told the publication. “She has given us the most perfect little boy and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her and Caiden.”

During their marriage, Lochte and Reid welcomed three children together: Caiden, Liv, and Georgia. On the “Unfiltered” podcast, he once opened up about how important being a good dad is to him.

While discussing the birth of his son, the swimmer said all he could do was “cry.”

“I couldn’t do anything else, I was like, ‘This is everything,'” he said. “That’s what I was put on this earth to be … a dad.”