Rock Bottom to Redemption: How Faith Transformed Olympian Ryan Lochte

Published: May 19, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Twelve-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte was in a near-fatal car accident in 2023 that left him bedridden, depressed and turning to drugs and alcohol for relief.

“I lost who I was,” Lochte told Fox News’ SATURDAY IN AMERICA.

At the time, Lochte attended church with his girlfriend, Molly, who was a worship leader.

“I was always afraid to ask questions growing up about God and everything because I didn’t want to seem dumb,” the former Olympian continued. “But she’s my best friend, and she’s been in church, she’s a worship leader, so I turned to her, and I’m, like, every Sunday I’d just ask her questions nonstop. And she would tell me everything about God, about Jesus.”

Lochte saw people being baptized, which struck something inside of his heart.

“And something came into me, like, something so pure. It felt so real watching these people get baptized,” he recalled. “And I asked her, I was like, ‘What is this?’ She’s like, ‘They’re washing away their sins. They’re getting a fresh start publicly.’ And I was like, ‘Honey, I want that.'”

So he got baptized too.

“I washed away my sins and, trust me, I had a lot,” Lochte joked. “And I washed away my sins, and me going to church and finding that to put your life in front of God and give it to God has changed everything for me. I’m finding who I am. I am being a better father, a better person, and I just love the person that I’ve become now. And I owe it to God. And it is just an amazing feeling.”

Over the weekend, Lochte was inducted into the Team USA Swimming Hall of Fame.

“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is something I’ll never take for granted. Swimming gave me so much more than medals and memories; it gave me purpose, lifelong friendships, unforgettable experiences, and helped shape the man I am today,” the swimmer shared on social media.

“Thank you to my family for believing in me before anyone else did. Thank you to Coach Gregg Troy (Pappy!!) for pushing me beyond limits I never thought were possible and helping me become the swimmer and competitor I was meant to be,” he continued. “Thank you to my UF teammates, Team USA, and everyone who supported me through every high and low. None of this happens alone. And to my kids and Molly…thank you for being my heart, my strength, and my reason to keep becoming a better man every day.”