Ryan Lochte Joins New Reality Show Amid Contentious Divorce And Rumors Of Financial Struggles

Ryan Lochte has his eyes on the prize amid his contentious divorce from his estranged wife, Kayla Lochte. On January 4, 2026, the Olympic gold medalist will take the stage on the Food Network's "Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check." This season, the star-studded cast, featuring "Real Housewives" and "Dancing with the Stars" legends, will take part in an intense culinary boot camp like no other to turn them from "cooking disasters to kitchen masters."

Ryan Lochte's appearance on the series comes at a crucial time in his life, as the elite athlete has been embroiled in a very public and explosive divorce from his wife, Kayla, whom he married in 2018. Since the summer of 2025, the pair have appeared to exchange jabs on social media while also battling it out in court over the custody of their children and marital assets.

Ryan Lochte has also seemingly found himself in financial trouble in recent months, as the Fletcher Park Owners' Association sued the swimmer over alleged unpaid fees connected to his and Kayla's $660,000 Florida home.

Beginning in early January 2026, the Food Network will air new episodes of "Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check," in which the cast of all-stars will compete in entertainment-themed challenges for a chance to win $25,000 for the charity of their choice.

"The kitchen is not where this season’s celebrity recruits shine – but Jeff and Tiffany are determined to change that," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content and Food at Warner Bros. "Worst Cooks is where comedy and cooking chaos collide, but in the end there are some impressive culinary transformations that will blow our audience away."

Ryan isn't the only notable figure joining the cast. The swimmer will be joined by "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Lisa Barlow, MTV veteran Downtown Julie Brown, "Dancing with the Stars" pro Val Chmerkovskiy, "Shahs of Sunset" cast member Reza Farahan, "Love & Hip Hop" alum Amara La Negra, "RuPaul's Drag Race" legend Manila Luzon, "The Challenge" mainstay CT Tamburello, "7th Heaven" star Beverly Mitchell, and rapper/actor Romeo Miller.

Ryan's appearance on "Worst Cooks" comes a month after the Olympian announced that he was writing a new memoir about his rise to superstardom and dramatic fall from grace after the 2016 Rio Summer Games. In addition to writing about his struggles, Ryan promised to give his fans an inside look at the turmoil he faced in his marriage.

He also spoke about his journey to fatherhood, saying that he felt crippled by pressure after learning that he was having a child "with someone I barely knew [and] who constantly reminded me that [our son] would be forever disappointed in the father I had become." He didn't stop there, though. Ryan explained that his strained relationship led him down a road of substance abuse. "Every day, I woke up to be belittled and reminded of my constant failures, day in and day out, until I was eventually kicked out of our family home."

In a since-deleted post, Kayla responded to Ryan's claims by sharing a clip of Ryan crying during their 2018 wedding ceremony. In the video, an emotional Ryan could be heard thanking Kayla for pausing her "own dreams" to support him, then for standing by his side during one of the darkest moments of his life. "Today, as we continue our story, I am confident that no matter what ups and downs we face, as long as we are together on this journey, and I’m in charge of the directions, we will always make it home," he vowed.

Before that, Ryan and Kayla battled back and forth in court over custody of their children, with Kayla alleging that the 41-year-old used drugs around their minor children. While Ryan has denied the claims, he did admit to using substances after falling into a deep depression following a near-fatal accident.

According to a previous report from The Blast, Ryan and Kayla were sued by their HOA over alleged unpaid fees. "Owner failed to pay the assessments of all types, interest, late fees, administrative fees, attorney’s fees, and costs of collections due to [the owner’s associate]," the legal papers stated. Months before that, reports surfaced that Ryan and Kayla were also dealing with massive debts owed to the IRS and medical facilities.

Most recently, Ryan stunned fans when he announced that he was auctioning off three of his gold medals. However, in a recent statement, he clarified that he is auctioning the medals for a larger cause. "I never swam for the gold medals," he said. "My passion has always been about being one of the best swimmers in the world. Those medals? They were just the cherry on top of an incredible journey."

"I've given away medals to fans and young kids in the stands, because it's never been just about me. It's about inspiring the next generation and helping them chase their dreams. The memories, the hard work, and the connection with all of you are what I treasure the most."