American swimming legend Ryan Lochte sells three Olympic gold medals following divorce with former Playboy model

According to Darren Rovell of cllct, Lochte auctioned three of his six Olympic gold medals, fetching a total of $385,520. This is not the first time the swimmer has parted with his hardware; in 2022, he sold six silver and bronze medals for $166,000 to benefit charity and manage personal finances.

The three gold medals sold in this latest auction represent different milestones in his career. The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold for the 4x200m freestyle relay, won alongside Michael Phelps, sold for $183,000. His very first taste of Olympic gold from the 2004 Athens Olympics fetched $80,000, while his final Olympic gold medal from the 2016 Rio Olympics went for $122,000.

In a video shared by auction house Goldin, Lochte confirmed his decision to pass the medals on to collectors. Throughout his career, Lochte has won 12 Olympic medals, including six gold and three silver.

Ryan Lochte and one of his Olympic gold medals. Photo by Instagram/@ryanlochte

The sale coincides with a difficult chapter in Lochte’s personal life. His wife, former Playboy model Kayla Reid, recently filed for divorce. While Reid described the split as a painful decision, Lochte has expressed deep gratitude for their time together and their three children.

Lochte admitted to having many shortcomings and said that the two of them did not truly understand each other, while affirming that he is trying to change through therapy, Daily Mail reported.

Last month, the 41-year-old opened up about the medal sale, admitting he was under significant public pressure and feeling "too emotional to speak" at the time. However, he insisted that selling the medals does not diminish his legacy.

Lochte shared on social media that he never swam just for gold medals, stating that his passion was to become one of the best swimmers in the world and that medals are just an added reward for a memorable journey.

Born in 1984, Lochte is known for his explosive underwater kicking and versatility across the backstroke, individual medley and freestyle. He ranks third all-time in Olympic swimming medals, trailing only Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.

Lochte's career was also marked with controversy. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he fabricated a story that he was robbed, resulted in international backlash and the loss of four major sponsorships.

In 2018, he received a 14-month ban for exceeding the permitted limit for an IV infusion. Lochte called the period after the Rio Olympics the darkest time, admitting to struggles with alcohol and depression as he navigated to deal with the pressure.

Ryan Lochte and his new love Molly Gillihan. Photo by Instagram/@ryanlochte

Lochte is on a path of rehabilitation and recovering from the aftermath of a serious 2023 car accident while writing a memoir detailing his rise and fall.

He is also focusing on fatherhood with his three children and his new relationship with Molly Gillihan, a kindergarten teacher, embracing a private lifestyle and religious faith in the journey ahead.