Ryan Lochte’s fiancée has denied being a ‘home-wrecker’ in response to an explosive, tell-all interview by his ex-wife.

The Olympic swimming icon has started a new life with kindergarten teacher Molly Gillihan. The couple got engaged in June with Lochte telling People he was ‘moving on with my life to bigger and better things, especially marrying Molly.’

He got a job in college swimming and the pair relocated from Gainesville to Missouri, after the dramatic collapse of his seven-year marriage to Kayla Reid, who last month referred to their relationship as a ‘ticking time bomb’ after their divorce was finalized.

Reid, who retains primary custody of the three children she and Lochte share – Caiden, 9, Liv, 7, and Georgia, 3, made a string of allegations against Lochte and also claimed that she and his new partner were friendly acquaintances, accusing them of having a secret affair.

Lochte insisted their relationship was a non-factor, despite admitting to infidelity during his marriage.

And Gillihan denies a friendship with his ex-wife, insisting they had met ‘only four or five times’ and denying being to blame for the end of their ‘broken’ marriage.

 ‘No [I wasn’t Kayla’s friend] and I’ll take that to my grave,’ Gillihan told TMZ. ‘I would never consider Kayla a friend of mine, ever. I would never date a friend’s husband.

 ‘I did not break up your marriage. I’m not a home-wrecker. Your home was broken when I met Ryan. He was not living in the home. [Reid] filed for divorce. … Reid had kicked him out.

‘I understand her being mad and upset, but to lie and make things up about me, I don’t get. I really don’t understand.’

Gillihan said the first date she shared with Lochte was April 10, 2025, after Reid had filed for divorce last March.

‘It got so messy because she kept coming around she kept being places I was at and she kept talking [negatively] to me about him,’ Gillihan said.

‘It was messy on my part if I could do it again I would’ve just removed myself from the situation completely.’

Lochte previously revealed details of how they met to the Daily Mail, and insisted ‘there was no infidelity’ and ‘Molly didn’t do anything wrong.’

Reid accused Lochte of infidelity and detailed alleged substance abuse inside their household, including claiming to have found evidence of him using cocaine in their daughter Liv’s bedroom and using nitrous oxide in front of their children.

Lochte has previously admitted to his drug usage but has adamantly denied using substances in front of his children.

Reid said that she issued an ultimatum in January 2025, demanding with their therapist that he enter a 30-day inpatient rehab facility and complete marriage counselling.

‘He screamed, said he wasn’t going to rehab, he didn’t have a problem,’ Reid revealed. ‘I called the attorney and filed for divorce.’

In response to Reid, Lochte told People in a statement: ‘Over the past several years, I’ve taken responsibility for the mistakes I’ve made and have spoken openly about some of the lowest moments in my life. Looking back, I wasn’t ready to be a husband or the man my family deserved at that point in my life.

‘That’s on me. I’m incredibly grateful for my children, and they are the greatest gift to come from that chapter of my life.

‘I’m not going to engage in a back-and-forth about my divorce or respond to every allegation or characterization.’