Swimming legend Stephanie Rice has gone public with her new relationship, announcing that she has been dating Australian pastor and father of three, Mark Lassey, for several months.
Rice, 36, who moved to start a new life in Dubai in November 2023, took to Instagram on Sunday night to share the news with her followers.
“When we met almost 5 months ago, we both knew this was different!” she posted alongside photos of herself and Lassey.
‘From the beginning there was a deep intentionality between us, and due to the complexities of our lives we wanted to keep these first few months among family and close friends, and enjoy the wonder of falling in love.’
Rice went on to explain that a mutual friend had put them in touch and the rest is history.
“But, as God would have it, that first phone conversation made us feel that this was exactly where we were both destined to end up,” he said.
‘Living across the world, in different time zones, has had its challenges (thank God for Zoom), but God has been so good and so present every step of our journey, giving us unwavering faith that our future will be even more extraordinary through Him.
“If there’s one word that sums up how we feel right now, it’s gratitude. Grateful to God, grateful for having come together at the perfect time, grateful for a new beginning.
Swimming great Stephanie Rice has announced her new relationship with pastor Mark Lassey (pictured together)
Rice revealed that she and Lassey have been dating for several months despite “living across the world from each other.”
The swimming legend has already met Lassey (second from right) and his sons (from left) Tyler, Joel and Luke.
‘Grateful for the peace and strength we found in each other, grateful for loving friends and family, grateful for an amazing church and mentors who support our journey, and most of all, grateful for each other.’
Rice is heavily involved with Kingdom City Church in Dubai, and Lassey is a pastor at the organization in Perth, Western Australia.
He has been in the church for more than 10 years, according to his LinkedIn profile, and is the father of sons Tyler, Joel and Luke; the fact that Rice has met his children is a clear sign that they are in a serious relationship.
The Olympic gold medalist joined the church when she made her surprise move to Dubai late last year.
“I honestly never thought I would be that person showing up for prayer nights, alone, in a new country, connecting with a community through a church,” she wrote.
“But here I am and it’s so special and it’s helped me feel very supported in this new home in Dubai.”
Kingdom City began in Perth in 2003 and has since gone global with branches in Africa, Europe and Asia, as well as the Middle East.
Rice said the couple was introduced by a mutual friend and are very much in love, with both sharing a strong dedication to their religion.
Rice was previously romantically involved with former soldier Dane Christison, whom she met at an Australian church.
The couple were on holiday in the United States last Christmas, but split up in May.
The Olympic swimmer then posted that she was happy to be over her previous relationship.
“When I moved, I really wanted to share a lot more of the journey with you in real time,” she said.
‘I was going through a very deep healing. At the time, I was in a very difficult relationship. When we separated, I felt like God’s peace was upon me. I felt free. I felt happy.
Lassey is pictured right as he prays on stage at a Kingdom City Church meeting.
Rice said her new life in Dubai has been a weight lifter.
“For the first time, I realized how much weight I was carrying. I felt like I had lifted everything off my shoulders and that I am now in an incredible place where I feel very happy, very content,” she said.
The athlete went on to thank God for the positive progress in her life.
“God is so good. I’m seeing so much fruit from the wonderful things God has given me, and I want to be able to share so much more of what’s happened in the last six months,” she said.
“Now I have much more clarity, much more peace and much more happiness.”
