Ryan Lochte can't believe the splash he's made with his new role as a coach for Missouri State University's swim team. His announcement has also shocked fans with his dark hair transformation, and the public's reaction to his new look certainly surprised his girlfriend, Molly Gilliham.
"My phone is blowing up with everyone saying that nobody recognizes you," Molly confessed in a May 14 Instagram video. "Baby, they say that you don't look the same at all." Ryan, however, was unbothered by the response that he was unrecognizable, especially as they were comparing the new pic of him to a far older one.
"Oh, so they're taking a picture of when I was working out every day, getting makeup put on me for photo shoots," he said. "Back in [the] 2012 Olympics. We're in 2026. What's that, 14 years?"
"I mean, to be unrecognizable. I don't get it," Ryan continued. "They're all clowns. Like, come on." The 41-year-old added on his Instagram Story, "I guess aging is frowned upon? What's happening lol."
But Molly never saw any issue with how Ryan looks now, telling him in the video, "I love you. You're my handsome baby." And clearly, the couple's romance is flowing just fine as Ryan—who is dad to Caiden, 8, Liv, 7, and Georgia, 2, with estranged wife Kayla Lochte—announced in January that he had moved in with Molly and her three children from a previous relationship after 10 months of dating.
"I fell in love with someone who shares those same values and who has three children of her own," the gold medalist told People. "Together, we're a family of six kids. She's my best friend, our kids have formed an incredible bond, and it became clear that being together under one roof was the right next step for all of us."
That's why Ryan and Molly made the move as they plan for their future together. "We needed a bigger home to support our blended family," he added. "And we're focused on creating a loving, stable environment for all of our children."
