Three-time Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has adopted her husband Mark Lassey’s surname and launched a new Instagram account, opening up about her marriage, Christian faith, financial setbacks and decision to rebuild her career at 38.
Australian swimming legend Stephanie Rice has changed her name to Stephanie Lassey, marking a new chapter in her life nearly two years after marrying pastor Mark Lassey.
The 38-year-old former Olympian announced the change on Monday, October 12, introducing a new Instagram account, @stephanie.lassey, where she plans to share her personal journey, Christian faith and work as a business consultant.
But the announcement was about more than adopting her husband’s surname. Rice also revealed why she wants to move away from the public identity she built during her swimming career, explaining how personal struggles, a move to Dubai and a renewed commitment to Christianity have changed her outlook on life.
Her decision also comes as she attempts to rebuild her professional career after walking away from an opportunity to become a company CEO, a position she described as her dream job.
Why Did Stephanie Rice Change Her Name to Stephanie Lassey?
Stephanie Rice changed her name after marrying Mark Lassey, a pastor associated with Kingdom Church, in January 2025. The couple have since made their home in Dubai.
While taking her husband’s surname explains the change itself, Rice’s decision to publicly introduce herself as Stephanie Lassey reflects a broader shift in how she wants to be known.
Rather than continue using the social media identity associated with her Olympic achievements, she has decided to create a new account focused on her current life and religious beliefs.
“Feels like the perfect time to start a fresh account, in my new name, and with a new commitment to sharing the journey God is taking me on,” she wrote.
Rice also acknowledged that the move would mean leaving behind a considerable social media following.
Her previous Instagram account had around 140,000 followers, an audience built over years of sporting success and public appearances.
Yet she said attracting a smaller group of people interested in her present journey mattered more than retaining that established audience.
For Rice, the change represents an opportunity to introduce herself beyond the achievements that first made her famous.
From Olympic Gold to Starting Again at 38
Rice became one of Australia’s celebrated swimmers after winning three gold medals at the Olympic Games.
Her success brought recognition, financial rewards and opportunities beyond professional sport. But in her latest social media posts, she admitted that maintaining that success eventually became difficult.
“I’ve won Olympic gold. Made millions of dollars. Lost everything. Found Jesus,” she wrote in one of the images introducing her new account.
The statement formed part of a 13-slide Instagram post in which Rice looked back on both her achievements and the difficulties she experienced after reaching the top of her sport.
She explained that her confidence had become increasingly dependent on professional success, income and other people’s opinions.
“On the outside I had it all,” she wrote, before acknowledging that she had started tying her personal worth to her achievements.
After retiring from competitive swimming in 2014, Rice pursued opportunities involving sponsorships, endorsements and motivational speaking.
However, she said public scrutiny, negative comments, legal disputes and unsuccessful business ventures gradually affected her confidence about the future.
How Her Move to Dubai and Christian Faith Changed Her Life
Rice described her religious awakening as a significant turning point following years of personal and professional uncertainty.
She said she had reached an emotionally exhausting stage in her life before embracing Christianity.
“That’s when I met Jesus. He found me at my lowest, completely exhausted from trying so hard to turn my life around and feeling so behind,” she wrote.
In 2023, Rice made the decision to leave Australia and relocate to Dubai.
According to her account, she sold her belongings and purchased a one-way ticket despite having no job, established friendships or clear professional plan in the city.
The move eventually became the setting for another important development in her personal life.
Rice met Mark Lassey in February 2024, and their relationship progressed quickly. The couple became engaged in September that year before marrying in January 2025 at Sandleford Wines in Perth.
Mark Lassey, 48, is a father of three.
Their marriage brought another change to Rice’s life as she embraced her new role as a pastor’s wife while continuing to consider her own professional future.
Why Stephanie Rice Turned Down Her Dream CEO Job
One of the most striking revelations in Rice’s announcement concerned a senior corporate position she chose not to pursue.
Following her move to Dubai, Rice worked as a company director for eight months.
She said the position provided her with a stronger income than she had received in years and eventually led to an offer to become the company’s chief executive.
For someone attempting to rebuild a career after sporting retirement and financial difficulties, the opportunity appeared to represent the progress she had been seeking.
However, Rice said she made the difficult decision to leave because of her religious convictions.
“Eight months into that role, I was offered to become CEO, my dream position,” she wrote.
“But God asked me to resign. I obeyed.”
Rice did not identify the company or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding her resignation.
She acknowledged that stepping away from the opportunity had left her facing another uncertain professional beginning.
“So here I am, starting again at 38,” she explained, admitting that she had expected her career to be further along by this stage of her life.
She described the experience as one of the most challenging periods she had faced, but maintained that her faith continued to guide her decisions.
Why She Is Leaving 140,000 Instagram Followers Behind
Rice’s decision to establish a separate Instagram account is another part of her attempt to build a different public identity.
Instead of simply changing the username on her existing profile, she introduced @stephanie.lassey and asked supporters to follow her there as she gradually transitions over the coming weeks.
The new profile promotes her work as a business consultant and is directed towards women who feel capable of achieving more but are struggling to make progress in their lives.
Its biography includes the message: “For the woman who knows she’s capable of more and is sick of starting over.”
Rice has also described her current circumstances with a simple statement:
“I’m rebuilding at 38, but this time, with Jesus at the centre of it all.”
The account attracted more than 2,300 followers within approximately 18 hours of its launch, according to figures reported on October 12.
Her decision to begin again with a smaller audience suggests she wants her future online presence to reflect her current values and professional ambitions rather than primarily her sporting past.
What Is Stephanie Lassey Planning Next?
Rice has not outlined a detailed timetable for her next professional venture, but her new account indicates that business consulting, personal development and faith-based content will form part of her future activities.
She has also made clear that she is still adjusting to the uncertainty of rebuilding her career.
Although she has described herself as being back at zero professionally, Rice’s posts suggest she remains focused on helping women who recognise their potential but feel they have struggled to fulfil it.
During her swimming career, success meant medals, records and public recognition. In her latest posts, she has placed greater emphasis on personal growth, religious conviction and finding direction after setbacks.
For an athlete once known primarily for what she achieved in the pool, adopting the name Stephanie Lassey is both a reflection of her marriage and an opportunity to tell a different story.
Also Read: Amazon’s $7 Billion Decart Deal Could Put Nvidia-Backed AI Technology to Work on Trainium Chips
