Olympian Ryan Lochte has something to say to the “clowns” dragging him over his aged appearance in a new social media video.
Online, Lochte, who has been the center of attention over the last year due to his personal woes with his estranged wife, recently announced his new job.
However, instead of being showered with congratulations, social media users shared their critical comments about Ryan Lochte’s look, sparking a sharp response from the 41-year-old himself.
Ryan Lochte Claps Back At ‘Clowns’ Dragging Him Over His Aged Appearance In A New Social Media Video
On Thursday, May 14, Lochte reshared a video of himself speaking with his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, about the unexpected reaction to his video announcing his new job as a swim coach.
In the comments, someone said the gold medalist looked like FBI Director Kash Patel, while another said he looked almost unrecognizable, according to The Blast.
In the new video, Gillihan can be heard telling her boyfriend that her phone has been blowing up over the last few days with people concerned for Lochte because of his appearance.
“They say that you don’t look the same at all,” she said, to which he replied, “What? What picture are they using?”
Ryan Lochte Pokes Fun At Those Mocking His Looks … ‘Guess Aging Is Frowned Upon’
Continuing, Gillihan told her partner that social media users have been comparing his recent video to a picture of him in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
“Oh, so they’re taking a picture of when I was working out every day, getting makeup put on me for photoshoots… back in [the] 2012 Olympics. We’re in 2026. What’s that? 14 years. You think I aged?” Lochte questioned.
“To be unrecognizable, I mean, I don’t get it,” he added before calling the trolls “clowns.”
Lochte added the following text to the video as well: “I guess aging is frowned upon?! What is happening lol.”
Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte Has Accepted A New Job Making $34 An Hour
For those who may be unfamiliar, the opinionated social media users were responding to Lochte’s video announcing his new job as an assistant swim coach at Missouri State University.
According to Front Office Sports, Lochte’s contract is worth $30,000 annually, which equates to $34 per hour. He will be employed by the higher education institution from August 2026 to June 2027.
The contract, which, according to FOS, is worth a similar amount to the team’s other assistant coaches, comes with a handful of possible bonus options, including a as $750 for an MVC men’s and women’s Conference Championship or Co-Championship, $500 for each NCAA Championship individual qualifier, and $500 for each relay team that qualifies for the NCAA Championship.
Lochte Has Clapped Back At Fans Before
This isn’t the first time that Lochte has clapped back at netizens speculating about his personal life, according to The Blast.
In December 2025, the swimmer was once again back in the spotlight after revealing that he was auctioning off three of his Olympic gold medals through Goldin Auctions in New Jersey.
The medals were from the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012 Summer Games.
Online, users claimed Lochte was parting ways with the medals to earn money after he was sued by the HOA of his Florida neighborhood for allegedly failing to pay fees.
In a different post, Lochte claimed that the statements couldn’t be further from the truth.
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,” he added.
Locthe Is Going Through A Divorce
The commenters, however, are likely the least of Lochte’s concerns. Per The Blast, his estranged wife, Kayla Reid, filed for divorce from the athlete in 2025.
“Earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection,” Reid posted. “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.”