Ryan Lochte ‘unrecognizable’ with tan, scruffy facial hair as he pronounces main profession transfer

Ryan Lochte has followers doing a double-take.

The Olympic swimmer debuted darkish, scruffy facial hair and a recent tan in a new video posted to Instagram over the weekend. In the clip, he introduced a significant “plot twist” — he’s taking up a brand new place as assistant swimming and diving coach at Missouri State University.

“Swimming gave me an incredible career, memories, things I will cherish forever, but over the last couple of years something so unexpected happened,” Lochte, 41, defined.

“I might actually be more passionate about coaching than competing,” he continued, stating that he believes he “might even be a better coach” than a competitor.

“I traded in my googles for a stopwatch, and I’m not going to lie, it looks pretty good on me.”

Despite the brand new profession transfer, followers couldn’t assist themselves from weighing in on Lochte’s look within the feedback part.

While he’s beforehand dyed his hair prior to now, he seems to be styling his darker locks with gel and sporting a 5 o’clock shadow

“Literally does not look like him,” one individual wrote.

“You are unrecognizable,” one other agreed.

A 3rd chimed in, writing, “Whoa. He looks like a completely different person.”

On the flip aspect, others gushed over Lochte’s dapper look, with one individual saying he’s “still fine.”

“Say what you want but this dude is a legend,” a second fan marveled.

“Looking great,” one other acknowledged.

Others congratulated Lochte on his new gig, writing issues like, “You’re going to crush it.”

Lochte’s new look — and new chapter — comes after his estranged spouse, Kayla Rae Reid, filed for divorce in March 2025 after seven years of marriage. They introduced their break up in June 2025.

The exes are the dad and mom to son Caiden Zane, 8, and daughters, Liv Rae, 6, and Georgia June, 2.

Lochte has since moved on with Molly Gillihan, whom he claimed was “10 times better” than Reid.

His new companion seems to be supportive of his new gig, as she wrote within the feedback part, “I love you. I am beyond, beyond proud of you. This is what you were made to do!!! Congrats my lovie! 💕.”