Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte Explains Decision To Auction Olympic Gold Medal & Negative Comments About Ex Wife

Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte recently announced that he would auction off three of the six gold medals he won with the United States Olympic swimming team between 2008 and 2016.

This week, the Olympic gold medalist clarified the reasoning behind the decision. “I never swam for the gold medals,” Lochte said in a statement posted to Instagram. “My passion has always been about being one of the best swimmers in the world. Those medals? They were just the cherry on top of an incredible journey.”

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The 41-year-old swimmer won more than 90 medals throughout his career, noting that the accomplishments symbolize achieving something few swimmers ever do. “I’ve given away medals to fans and young kids in the stands because it’s never been just about me,” Lochte said. “It’s about inspiring the next generation and helping them chase their dreams.”

Lochte has previously sold several of his medals, including in 2022, when all proceeds were donated to charity. That auction raised $195,000 for the Jorge Nation Foundation, an organization that sends sick children on dream vacations. The proceeds from this year’s auctions are also being donated to charitable causes.

Lochte also addressed comments regarding his relationship with his estranged wife, Kayla Reid Lochte, from whom he separated in June after seven years of marriage.

“Every day, I woke up to be belittled and reminded of my constant failures, day in and day out,” he wrote on Instagram, “until I was eventually kicked out of our family home.”

He later added that he understands his comments have drawn criticism. “I understand that my words have sparked a lot of backlash, and I want to express that my intention was never to hurt anyone, but to share my honest feelings,” Lochte said. “There’s a lot happening behind the scenes that I’ve chosen to keep private to protect my kids.”