Harry How/Getty; Phillip Faraone/Getty Ryan Lochte and his wife Kayla Rae Lochte have split Kayla announced on Instagram on Wednesday, June 4 that she has decided to end their marriage The couple share three children: son Caiden Zane, almost 8, and daughters Liv Rae, nearly 6, and Georgia June, 23 months Ryan Lochteand his wife Kayla Rae Lochte are going their separate ways. The mother of threeconfirmed she's divorcing her husband of seven years in an Instagram poston Wednesday, June 4. "Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection," Kayla wrote. "I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing, and challenging seasons of my life. I've been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing — not from fresh, open wounds." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She continued, "Sometimes we face trials we didn't choose or see coming. And in those moments, we're forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children, and our future. I've come to the understanding that staying isn't always the most loving decision someone can make. For me, leaving was an act of love — for those around me and for myself." The Olympian and his wife share three children, sonCaiden Zane, who turns 8 on June 8, and daughtersLiv Rae, 6 on June 17, andGeorgia June, who turns 2 on June 22. Kayla continued in her post that she has chosen to announce the news because "living with transparency and authenticity has been how I have grown into the person I am today, and I'll continue to do so — while also protecting the parts of this journey that are private and unfolding in uncharted territory." Lochte and Reid did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. The 12-time Olympic medalist in swimming first met his wife the same year as the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He revealed after the games thathe was dating Kayla, and in October of the same year, he proposed to her during a private helicopter tour of Los Angeles. The couple welcomed their son Caiden Zane a year later and were married in 2018. Last year, the retired swimmer opened up about the mental impact of a near-fatal car accident in 2023. Lochte penned a powerful message on social media that detailed his rise out of the "depression" that set in after the November accident that left him with multiple injuries — including a broken femur and abrasions on his forehead. "One year ago, my life changed forever," Lochte wrote in his post at the time. "A car accident nearly took everything from me — and for a long time, it felt like it had. I struggled to find myself again, sinking back into depression and doubting my worth as a father, a husband, and the person I knew I could be. But I didn't face this journey alone." Kayla wrote on Wednesday that she is relying on her faith to get through. "I believe god is still at work — even in the breaking, even in the unknown. I choose to believe that new growth can emerge from broken ground," she concluded. "Moving forward, I'm choosing to give myself grace. I'm choosing resilience. And I'm choosing to believe that what lies ahead will bring strength and peace. Your prayers and continued support mean the world to me right now." Read the original article onPeople
