After 14 months of dating, swimming legend Ryan Lochte is officially engaged to his new fiancée, Molly Gillihan. The 12-time Olympic medalist got down on one knee to surprise Gillihan with an engagement ring, which she gleefully accepted, and later penned a moving engagement announcement on her social media. This comes after both have been through a turbulent year that was marked by major life changes.
The proposal took place at the Prime & Pearl restaurant, located in Gainesville, Florida, which happens to be the pair’s very first dating spot. Lochte left no stone unturned in setting an epic atmosphere by lining the entrance with red rose petals that led all the way up to their table. Gillihan then opened a letter that read, “Will you marry me?” to which she immediately said yes and embraced Lochte in tears of joy.
Later, she took time to pen a moving statement on Instagram, reflecting on anxiety, fear, and emotional healing that she had gone through over the last year while expressing enthusiastic admiration for now having Lochte by her side.
“Since the world knows- yes, I am going to marry @ryanlochte. ❤️ The truth is, words could never fully express how deeply, disgustingly obsessed and in love with this man I am. A year ago, I had no idea where life would take us. There was so much uncertainty, fear, anxiety, and chaos surrounding us.”
Gillihan then continued, crediting Lochte for stepping in with his unconditional loyalty and unwavering presence that helped her overcome her fears.
“Ryan showed me what real love looks like. He showed up. He stayed. There were times I tried to run from the fear, from the weight of it all… He never gave up on us. He never stopped choosing me, even when I struggled to choose myself. I always said I would never get married again. My heart had built walls I never thought would come down. Yet somehow, this man gently, patiently, and faithfully changed that.”
The mother of three then ended the post with gratitude for their relationship, and expressed joy in getting to spend her life with someone she truly loves.
A Turbulent Past Year for Both Ryan Lochte and Molly Gillihan
Both Lochte and Gillihan have entered this relationship carrying heavy emotional baggage from a painful year. Lochte went through a high-profile public divorce from his seven-year wife, Kayla Reid, while simultaneously checking himself into rehab after struggling with a year-long substance abuse.
Gillihan has had her share of heartbreaks, including the end of her marriage to her previous husband, with whom she had three kids. She then went on to navigate the challenging journey of being a single mother.
Ryan, who himself has three kids with his estranged wife, moved in with Gillihan and her kids in January. The couple has been living together since then, and Gillihan has credited Lochte with helping her to learn how to trust people again. She has mentioned how his presence throughout the last 14 months helped in demolishing the emotional wall that she had built around her heart, following her own setbacks.
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