Stephanie Rice has shared how her friends and family feared she had ‘joined a cult’ when she first expressed her strong interest in Christianity.
The former Olympic swimmer, 38, married pastor Mark Lassey earlier this month after just ten months of dating, with the pair bonding over the religion.
‘A lot of people thought I’d lost my mind or fallen under some cult or something and that’s fine,’ she told the Courier Mail this week.
Rice says that she rebuffs these concerns by asking, ‘Aren’t you happy for me that I’m in a good place?’
The athlete says she has thrown herself into religion ‘100 percent’ and that doing so ‘saved her’.
Rice and her new husband, who is also a dedicated Christian, are now looking to the future.
Stephanie Rice has shared how her friends and family feared she had ‘joined a cult’ when she first expressed her strong interest in Christianity. Pictured with husband Mark Lassey
‘We would love to (have a family) if that’s something we’re able to do,’ she said.
‘Mark has three kids so if he didn’t want to have any more kids that would’ve been a really hard thing for me to weigh up because I’ve always wanted to be a mum.’
Stephanie stunned fans with a second wedding just days after her first earlier this month.
She tied the knot with her partner Mark following a whirlwind ten month romance earlier that week.
Stephanie then held a second wedding – again in Perth – sharing a look at the event on social media.
‘Because one night wasn’t enough. We had the most amazing night celebrating our marriage and farewell with our favourite people, on the most amazing rooftop, in this beautiful city, under the presence of God,’ she wrote in her Instagram caption.
‘Thank you to all our family and friends who flew from across the world to make these the most memorable days of our lives,’ the athlete continued.
‘And to all of our family who prayed, encouraged and honoured our love story. You all mean so much to us and made these two days so special.’
The former Olympic swimmer, 38, married pastor Mark Lassey earlier this month after just ten months of dating, with the pair bonding over the religion
In the images, the pair said ‘I do’ for a second time at a rooftop venue surrounded by family and friends.
Steph opted for a stunning sleeveless silk gown for her second ceremony, and added a pair of pearl drop earrings.
She carried a large bouquet of white blooms while her heels were hidden by her long train.
Mark meanwhile looked dapper in a cream suit with a white shirt worn partially unbuttoned.
The pair partied into the night with their guests with fireworks going off at the venue as they shared a kiss.
Stephanie had earlier reveled she exchanged vows with the Aussie pastor, 46, during a vineyard ceremony in his native Perth.
The couple met at the start of 2024 and got engaged in September after seven months of dating.
For the ceremony, which was held at Sandalford Wines, Steph looked every inch the blushing bride in a gorgeous strapless satin gown which featured a long train that billowed out behind her.
‘A lot of people thought I’d lost my mind or fallen under some cult or something and that’s fine,’ she told the Courier Mail this week
She let her dress do all the talking as she simply accessorised with a dainty necklace and droplet earrings, while she wore her brunette tresses loose over her shoulders.
Steph gazed lovingly at her new husband Mark, who cut a dapper figure in a tuxedo, made up of a white shirt, black trousers and a suave cream suit jacket.
The couple shared a video documenting the moment they were declared a married couple.
In the footage, they beamed with joy as they stood holding hands at the outdoor altar which sat underneath a natural green vine pergola.
They were then showered with confetti as they walked down the aisle together as newlyweds before they shared a romantic kiss.
The couple then celebrated their union with their closest family and friends during an outdoor reception at sunset on the grounds of the vineyard.
Later in the evening, the pair kissed while sparklers lit up the sky behind them.
In an accompanying caption, Steph shared her excitement over starting off her married life with Mark in Dubai, where they plan to live together.
Rice and her new husband, who is also a dedicated Christian, are now looking to the future and hoping to start a family
She gushed: ‘Surrounded by our closest family and friends, those who have loved, supported, and guided us on our journey, all came together to celebrate our love and the beginning of forever together.
‘As we step into this new chapter as husband and wife, where two become one, our hearts are so full.
‘The day was everything we dreamed it would be—overflowing with love, joy, and the tangible presence of God. It felt like heaven touched earth.
‘Thank you to everyone who made our day so special! We are truly blessed.’
She finished off her post with a Bible quote, adding: ‘I know all about the marvelous destiny I have in store for you, a future planned out in detail.
‘My intention is not to harm you but to surround you with peace and prosperity and to give you a beautiful future, glistening with hope – Jeremiah 29:11 TPT.’
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Stephanie joined the church when she relocated to Dubai late last year and is now heavily involved with Kingdom City.
Mark is a pastor with the same organisation in Perth and has been with the church for more than 10 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Stephanie stunned fans with a second wedding just days after her first earlier this month
Stephanie then held the second wedding – again in Perth – sharing a look at the event on social media
‘We had the most amazing night celebrating our marriage and farewell with our favourite people, on the most amazing rooftop, in this beautiful city, under the presence of God,’ she wrote in her Instagram caption
The athlete looked absolutely delighted
Kingdom City started in Perth in 2003 and has since gone global with branches in Africa, Europe and Asia in addition to the Middle East.
Their wedding comes after a whirlwind ten months of dating after they were first introduced by a mutual friend at the start of 2024.
They quietly dated for five months before going public with their romance on Instagram in July, just weeks before they got engaged.
The couple have been in a long-distance relationship with Mark being based in Perth while Steph moved to Dubai in November 2023.
The couple announced their engagement in September after Mark popped the question at Dubai’s luxury Atlantis The Royal hotel while visiting Steph.
Mark is a father to three sons – Tyler, Joel and Luke – from a previous relationship.
Steph was previously romantically involved with former soldier Dane Christison, who she met at an n church.
They holidayed in the United States together over Christmas 2023, but she publicly announced their split just months later in May 2024.
Stephanie had earlier reveled she exchanged vows with the Aussie pastor, 46, during a vineyard ceremony in his native Perth
The couple shared a video documenting the moment they were declared a married couple
They sealed their vows with a kiss
For the ceremony, Steph looked every inch the blushing bride in a gorgeous strapless satin gown which featured a long train that billowed out behind her
Stephanie had deleted images of her boyfriend from her Instagram page even earlier in March and had not mentioned him in some weeks.
The sportswoman later opened up about how she was happy their relationship had ended.
‘When I moved, I really wanted to share a lot more of the journey with you guys in real time,’ she said.
‘I just was going through the deepest healing. I was in a really challenging relationship at the time, when we broke up, I felt the peace of God was upon me. I felt like I felt free. I felt happy.’
At the time, Stephanie said that her new life in Dubai had lifted a weight off her shoulders.
‘For the first time, I realised the heaviness that I was carrying. I just felt like it all lifted off me, and I feel like I’m in this amazing place now where I feel so happy, so content,’ she said.
‘God is so good. I’m seeing so many fruits of the amazing things God has given me, and I want to be able to share a lot more of what’s kind of happened over the past six months’ she said.
‘Now that I have a lot more clarity, a lot more peace, and a lot more happiness.’
The couple met at the start of 2024 and got engaged in September after seven months of dating