TROUBLE IN PARADISE –
September 3, 2025 – Ryan Lochte is pushing back against explosive claims made by his estranged wife, Kayla Lochte, who alleged she once caught him “inhaling nitrous oxide” in front of their three children. She also claimed to have found “mostly empty baggies of cocaine around the marital home,” and asked the court to grant her sole custody of their kids. Ryan is denying the allegations, saying he never used drugs in “front of or around” their children.
The swimmer admitted he struggled with substance abuse in recent years but but insisted he never put his children in danger.
“At times, I would rest in my truck instead of going inside — not because I was impaired, but because the home environment had become overwhelming and very toxic, and I needed a moment to collect myself before walking in,” Ryan shared.
As for what led to his substance abuse, the swimming pro told the outlet it started after a 2023 car accident.
“I fell into a cycle of depression that led to substance abuse,” he revealed, calling the crash, which happened in Gainesville, Florida, a “near-death experience.”
“I scared a lot of people,” Ryan told PEOPLE in an interview just months after the incident. “I scared myself.”
Ryan suffered a broken leg and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery. He was released from the hospital after three days and spent several months in recovery learning to walk again.
