Ryan Lochte Claps Back at ‘Clowns’ Saying He Looks ‘Unrecognizable’ in Recent Video: ‘I Guess Aging Is Frowned Upon?’

Kimberlee SpeakmanFri, May 15, 2026 at 1:52 PM UTC

6

Ryan Lochte in 2026; Lochte in 2017
Credit: Ryan Lochte/Instagram;  Rebecca Sapp/WireImage -

Ryan Lochte has responded to internet trolls who commented on his appearance after he recently posted a video announcing his new role as an assistant swim coach at Missouri State University

In an Instagram video captured by his girlfriend Molly Gillihan, the 41-year-old called negative commenters "clowns" and said he doesn't understand why people claimed he's looking "unrecognizable"

“I guess aging is frowned upon?! What is happening lol," Lochte wrote on his Instagram Stories

Ryan Lochte is clapping back at internet trolls for saying he looks “unrecognizable.”

On Thursday, May 14, the Olympic gold medalist, 41, reposted a video from his girlfriend, Molly Gillihan, to his Instagram Stories, sharing his response to anybody saying he he looks vastly different from his Olympic days. The reaction came after Lochte posted a clip announcing that he'd accepted an assistant coaching position with the Missouri State Bears.

“My phone is blowing up with everyone saying that nobody recognizes you,” Gillihan was heard telling Lochte in the video, as he scrolled on his phone while sitting on a couch.

“They say that you don’t look the same at all…” she added.

Lochte responds to internet trolls on his Instagram Stories
Credit: Molly Gillihan/Ryan Lochte/Instagram

“What? What picture are they using?” Lochte responded, as Gillihan replied, “You look good. You’re all fit. It’s a professional picture ... But it’s also from when you were in the 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?” the swimmer questioned in the clip.

"To be unrecognizable, I mean, I don’t get it,” he continued, before adding of the negative commenters, "They’re all clowns, like, come on."

Over the video, he wrote, “I guess aging is frowned upon?! What is happening lol,” alongside multiple crying laughing emojis.

Advertisement

The 12-time Olympic medalist's reaction came days after he shared a video on Instagram on Sunday, May 10, in which he announced that he would be joining the Missouri State swim coaching staff. "Plot twist! Ryan Lochte is officially becoming Coach Lochte," he said in the clip.

Ryan Lochte at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team swimming trials in Nebraska
Credit: Al Bello/Getty

"Swimming gave me an incredible career, memories, things I will cherish forever, but over the last couple of years something so unexpected happened…” Lochte explained. “I might actually be more passionate about coaching than competing."

While some fans shared their support for the next step of Lochte's career, others couldn’t help but comment on the difference in his looks from when he started his swimming career.

One person said that the person in the video “literally does not look like him.”

Ryan Lochte and Molly Gillihan
Credit: Ryan Lochte/Instagram

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Took me a very long time to realize this was him talking about himself in the third person at first,” another commenter responded to the post.

However, several people, including Gillihan, who he moved in with in January, remained unfazed in the comments. She wrote, "love you. I am beyond, beyond proud of you. This is what you were made to do!!! Congrats my lovie! 💕."

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”