Ryan Lochte is opening up about the mental impact of his near-death car accident last year.
Lochte, 40, wrote a powerful message on social media detailing his recovery from the “depression” that set in after the Nov. 21, 2023 crash that left the Olympian with multiple injuries — including a broken femur and visible scratches on his forehead.
“One year ago my life changed forever,” father-of-three Lochte began in his Instagram caption, which accompanied a video of his family enjoying themselves at the pool.
“The car accident almost took everything from me — and for a long time I felt like it did,” Lochte continued. “I struggled to find myself again, sinking back into depression and doubting my worth as a father, a husband and the person I knew I could be. But I didn’t face this journey alone.”
Ryan Lochte with his wife Kayla, daughter Liv and son Caiden.
Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated/Getty
Ryan Lochte shows off his 10-month recovery from harrowing car crash that broke his femur in half
The six-time gold medalist said the support of his family and friends helped him overcome the emotional pain.
“Thanks to the love and support of the amazing people in my life, I began to rise out of that darkness. They reminded me of my strength when I couldn’t see it myself,” said Lochte, who told PEOPLE in September that he “could have died.” from the accident.
“Today I’m proud to say that I’m not just surviving – I’m fighting,” Lochte continued in his Instagram post. “Fighting for my family, for my dreams and for the life I know I was meant to live. This year has taught me that failures don’t define us – we are defined by our comebacks.”
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Concluding his message, Lochte wrote, “For growth, resilience and the strength of love and community. Thank you to everyone who has stood by me. 🙏💪 #Resilience #Grateful #OneYearStronger #FighterInLife.”
Lochte was driving to pick up his children from school in Gainesville, Fla., on Nov. 21 when the vehicle in front of him unexpectedly swerved out of their lane to avoid a stopped garbage truck.
The swimmer and his wife Kayla have a son Caiden (7), a daughter Liv (5) and a one-year-old daughter Georgia.
Ryan Lochte Gets Emotional As He Talks About Recovering From ‘Near-Death’ Car Crash (Exclusive)
During a September interview with PEOPLE, the athlete said that working with a therapist helped him find “the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Lochte said his therapist came to him by putting “everything in perspective in swimming terms.”
“You have to think every time you wake up that you are in the pool and what are you doing while swimming? You attack it,” Lochte explained. “Just keep moving forward and stuff like that. So I started thinking like that and I said, ‘Man, this kind of makes sense.’ ”
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