Ryan Lochte’s ex-wife Kayla Reid has broken her silence on the bitter collapse of their eight-year marriage, labeling the relationship as a ‘ticking time bomb’.

In an explosive new tell-all interview with PEOPLE following the finalization of their divorce, the 35-year-old former model opened up about the hidden turmoil that ultimately drove her to walk away from the 12-time Olympic medalist.

Reid revealed that despite portraying a united front publicly, she wrote in her personal journal years ago that their marriage was destined to explode, confessing that she now realizes: ‘I don’t think it was a love anyone deserved.’

‘I’m thankful that I’m no longer in that place,’ Reid said after settling the split. ‘What I was living I thought was good, but there were a lot of things that I didn’t know were happening. It’s a question that I actually have: What was real? What wasn’t?’

The couple first met in early 2016 after Lochte sent Reid a message on Instagram, leading to a whirlwind romance that saw them tie the knot in 2018 shortly after welcoming their first child, Caiden.

However, Reid alleged that the serial infidelity began early on, claiming she was bombarded with photos of Lochte snuggled up to another woman while she was pregnant with their son after he attended a friend’s wedding alone.

Ryan Lochte’s ex-wife Kayla Reid has broken her silence on the collapse of their marriage 

The 35-year-old former model opened up about the hidden turmoil that ultimately drove her to walk away from the 12-time Olympic medalist 

‘When I confronted him [about whether he cheated], he said, ‘Absolutely not, that didn’t happen,’ she recalls, admitting that she believed his response. 

However, she stated that a similar pattern repeated in 2023 while she was pregnant with their daughter Georgia, when she discovered a scantily clad selfie on his phone from a woman at his gym.

‘I couldn’t believe it,’ Reid recalled. ‘Here I was again. I felt immense guilt and shame that I wasn’t a good wife… So I sat there and sobbed and apologized.’

In addition to infidelity, Reid detailed alleged substance abuse inside their household, claiming she found evidence of Lochte using cocaine in daughter Liv’s bedroom and using nitrous oxide – commonly known as whippets – in front of their children.

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

The strained relationship escalated following a near-fatal car crash in late 2023 when Lochte smashed his vehicle into a parked garbage truck, leaving him bed-bound with a broken femur while Reid served as the sole caregiver and provider.

The ultimate breaking point arrived in January 2025 when Reid issued an ultimatum with their therapist, demanding Lochte enter a 30-day inpatient rehab facility and complete marriage counseling.

‘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.’

Lochte is now engaged to kindergarten teacher Molly Gillihan (pictured) following his divorce 

Lochte is seen with new partner, Molly, and his three children

Reid claimed the subsequent 18-month legal battle was brutal, stating Lochte attempted to push her into signing an NDA and accepting a proposed $25,000 buyout in exchange for custody of their three young children.

Responding to the allegations, Lochte issued a statement acknowledging past mistakes while defending his actions during the split.

‘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,’ Lochte said. ‘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.’

The 42-year-old swimmer – who has since relocated to Missouri to coach college swimming – insisted that the request for an NDA was solely meant to keep the drama away from their children.

‘Any discussion about a confidentiality agreement was never about hiding the truth or protecting my reputation,’ Lochte added. ‘It was about protecting my children from exactly this kind of situation. I’ve always believed that my children’s privacy should come before headlines.’

Lochte has since moved on and is engaged to new fiancee Molly Gillihan, who also issued a statement pushing back on Reid’s claims that she broke up the marriage, stating they only reconnected after the divorce was underway.

Meanwhile, Reid retains primary custody of their children – Caiden, 9, Liv, 7, and Georgia, 3 – and is channeling her energy into real estate and co-hosting a new podcast, The Comeback Era.

‘I get to have a second chance at life and love,’ Reid concluded, revealing a friend recently gifted her a cake that simply read: ‘And she lived happily ever after.’