Ryan Lochte Opens Up About 'Cycle of Depression That Led to Substance Abuse'

After revealing he is more than 54 days sober, former professional athlete Ryan Lochte spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about how he overcame substance abuse, which began after a 2023 car accident.

Lochte, 41, told Us, “I fell into a cycle of depression that led to substance abuse.”

Back in November 2023, Lochte was involved in a crash in Gainesville, Florida, that he called a “near-death experience.” Lochte was on his way to pick up his kids when he slammed into a stopped trash truck.

“I scared a lot of people,” he said in an interview with People months after the incident. “I scared myself.” He 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 which included physical therapy to learn to walk again.

More recently, the Olympic swimmer was accused of drug use – and even allegedly using drugs in front of one of his children – by his estranged wife, Kayla Lochte, via court docs in August. Ryan told Us, “I am not denying that I used drugs in my home, but I adamantly deny ever using drugs in front of or around my children, and I have never driven them while intoxicated.”

Now sober, Ryan added, “And I feel better and happier than I have in years.”

He said, “We all make mistakes in life. We are not defined by those mistakes, but by how we learn from them and the work we put in to overcome them. I am extremely sorry for hurting or disappointing anyone along the way. My focus now is on my recovery, on being the best father I can be, and on moving forward in a way that keeps my kids safe, supported, and loved.”

Ryan ended, “To anyone struggling with substance abuse: you are not alone. There are people who love you, and there are resources that can help. Reaching out for support is the first step toward healing.”

On August 29, Ryan released a video on social media announcing he was 54 days sober.

“I wanted to share some positive updates in my life and what’s going on,” Ryan said. “I’m so happy right now, and the big reason is that I’m 54 days sober. Yes!”

Ryan said he was in a “really dark place” after the crash and experienced “depression, loneliness and feeling like I was giving up in life.”

The athlete admitted that this led to him abusing substances. He noted, “With everything going on in my life, I needed to make a change.”

“I checked myself into a Florida recovery center,” Ryan continued. “The staff has been incredible. They helped me realize substance abuse isn’t a solution. It’s just a distraction that makes things worse.”

In his video, Ryan said that as a result of his issues, he decided to check himself into a facility. “The staff has been incredible. They helped me realize substance abuse isn’t a solution. It’s just a distraction that makes things worse,” Ryan revealed.

“I’m motivated and I’m moving forward,” Ryan explained. “I wanted to share this with you guys, especially my fans, because you guys are so important to me. In life, you’re going to get knocked down or hit a roadblock. It’s not how you get knocked out. It’s how you get back up.”

Lochte rose to fame as a decorated Olympic swimmer. He has competed in the Olympic Games in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. He was awarded 12 medals, including six gold.

He wed Kayla in September 2018. The couple had three children: Caiden, 8, Liv, 5, and Georgia, 2.

As Us previously reported, Kayla filed for divorce in June after seven years of marriage. In recent court documents, she demanded sole custody.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).