Ryan Lochte & Kayla Reid: The Olympic Champion Who Sold His Gold Medals
An Olympic hero auctioned his gold medals to survive a divorce that exposed $270,000 in debt and allegations of drug use.
Key Facts
What Happened
Ryan Lochte won twelve Olympic medals, including six gold, making him one of the most decorated swimmers in history. He married model and influencer Kayla Rae Reid in 2018 after meeting on the dating app Tinder. They had three children together and appeared to be building a stable post-Olympic life. But beneath the surface, the couple was drowning in debt, and the marriage was deteriorating rapidly.
Kayla filed for divorce in March 2025 in Florida, describing the marriage as 'irretrievably broken.' Court documents revealed a shocking financial picture: the couple had accumulated over $270,000 in debt, including $99,696 owed to the IRS for tax years 2021 and 2022, and a homeowners association lien of $2,231 on their Gainesville, Florida home. For a man who had earned millions in prize money and endorsements, the financial situation was dire.
The custody battle became particularly contentious when Kayla alleged in court documents that Lochte had used drugs in front of their three children and driven them while intoxicated. She sought full custody based on these allegations. Lochte denied the claims, acknowledging past substance use struggles but insisting he never endangered his children. The allegations highlighted the increasingly common role of substance abuse claims in custody disputes.
In one of the most symbolic moments of any athlete divorce, Lochte partnered with Goldin Auction House to sell three of his six Olympic gold medals from the 2004, 2008, and 2016 Games. The medals fetched $385,520, providing Lochte with much-needed liquidity during the divorce. The sale of Olympic medals by a living champion was nearly unprecedented and illustrated the desperate financial circumstances that divorce can create, even for world-class athletes.
Legal Breakdown: Divorce and Shared Debt
Dividing Debt Instead of Assets
Not all divorces involve dividing wealth. When a couple has accumulated significant debt, the division of liabilities becomes the central financial issue. Florida's equitable distribution applies to debts as well as assets, meaning both parties may be responsible for obligations incurred during the marriage, including tax debt.
Substance Abuse Allegations and Custody
Allegations of drug use in front of children are taken extremely seriously by family courts. Even when denied, these claims trigger investigation and can result in supervised visitation, drug testing requirements, or temporary custody modifications. The accusing party bears the burden of proof, but the allegations alone can shift the dynamic of custody proceedings.
Liquidating Personal Assets During Divorce
Lochte's sale of his Olympic medals illustrates the lengths to which parties sometimes go to generate liquidity during divorce. Courts generally allow the sale of personal property during proceedings, but significant asset dispositions may require court approval or notification of the other party to prevent dissipation of marital assets.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Divorce can reveal financial problems that were hidden or ignored during the marriage, including significant debt.
- →Substance abuse allegations in custody disputes require immediate and serious legal response, even when false.
- →Athletes' post-career financial decline can make divorce proceedings more complicated and contentious than expected.
- →Tax debt accumulated during marriage is a shared responsibility that must be addressed in the divorce settlement.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.