Former Olympic Swimming Champion Stephanie Rice Begins New Career

Australian former Olympic swimming champion Stephanie Rice has undergone a major personal and professional rebrand, adopting her husband's surname and launching a new digital presence as she navigates a career pivot at age 38. Best known for sweeping three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rice has spent recent years building a life in Dubai.

Transitioning away from her previous brand, Rice started a new Instagram account under the name Stephanie Lassey. In her online bio, she describes the profile as a resource for women who know they are capable of more, noting that she is rebuilding her career with her Christian faith at the center of her life.

Reflecting on her journey after retiring from competitive swimming in 2014 due to a shoulder injury, Rice opened up about the emotional and professional hurdles she has faced. Following her retirement, she worked in sports commentating, business consulting, and athlete mentoring, and previously managed her own venture, Rice Enterprises.

Her path eventually led her to Dubai in late 2023, where she sought a fresh chapter away from the Australian spotlight. After initially securing a role as a company director, she was offered a position as a chief executive, which she described as a dream opportunity. However, she ultimately walked away from the role.

Explaining the decision in a candid social media post, Rice stated that she chose to resign because she believed she was asked to do so by God. Despite admitting that the career reset has been testing, she expressed optimism about her future and her decision to trust the process.

Rice is now utilizing her platform to promote her business consulting services, focusing on women seeking to unlock their professional potential. Her latest career shift follows her marriage to Mark Lassey, a pastor with Kingdomcity, whom she wed in Perth in January 2025 after a whirlwind courtship.