Olympic Champion Stephanie Rice finds love with Mark Lassey, a pastor and father-of-three from Australia. The 36-year-old former olympic swimmer, currently residing in Dubai, revealed her long-distance relationship on social media.
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“When we met almost five months ago, we both knew this was different!” Rice shared alongside a photo of the couple on Instagram. She explained that a mutual friend introduced them, and their first conversation felt destined.
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“But as God would have it, that first phone conversation made us feel like this was exactly where we were both meant to end up,” she wrote.
Rice and Lassey have managed their relationship despite the distance, frequently traveling around the world for work, which has allowed them to spend time together. They have visited various cities, met each other’s friends and family, and envisioned a future together.
“Living halfway across the world from each other in different time zones has had its challenges (thank God for Zoom) but God has been so good and so present in every step of our journey, which gives us an unwavering faith that our future will be even more extraordinary through Him,” Rice added.
Rice debuted her new relationship on Instagram, expressing their desire to keep their relationship private initially to enjoy the early stages of falling in love. “Because of the complexities of our lives we wanted to keep these first few months between close family and friends and enjoy the wonder of falling in love.”
A committed Christian, Rice attends the Kingdom City Church in Dubai, while Lassey serves as a pastor within the same organization, but based in Perth. According to his Instagram profile, Lassey has three sons: Tyler, Joel, and Luke.
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Rice’s move to Dubai has not been without challenges. She faced a barrage of negative comments after openly discussing her decision to relocate. Responding to the negativity, Rice wrote on Instagram, “We’ve all been broken at some point, some more than others, but never let that dampen your ability to shine love out into the world and onto others.
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I see the negative comments on my recent posts, but what I feel is the hurt that must be behind those comments.”
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Rice acknowledged her new commitment to God and the struggles she has faced.
“My commitment to God is a new walk for me: I have fears, I have doubts, I have concerns … but I also know that the way I was moving through life before is not how I want to go forward. This year has been incredibly challenging and at many times I’ve felt broken, but God has given me the gift of his trust in me, his faith in me, and his love for me.”
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She encouraged those facing difficulties to remain strong, writing, “So, to those struggling: stand strong, walk proud, you’ve come so far. Honour your journey, wounds and all — it’s made you into the beautiful soul you are today.”
Stephanie Rice’s announcement marks a new chapter in her life, embracing both her faith and her newfound love.
