**Bradley Wiggins Opens Up About Drug Addiction and Its Devastating Impact on Family Life**
Sir Bradley Wiggins, one of the UK’s most celebrated Olympians, has candidly discussed the profound challenges he faced in the years following his illustrious cycling career, including a long struggle with substance addiction that left his family deeply concerned for his welfare. The former Tour de France champion and five-time Olympic gold medallist revealed the depths of his dependency, painting a stark picture of life after the sporting limelight faded.
Wiggins, now 45, described a troubling period after he retired from professional cycling in December 2016. Despite a career crowned with accolades, he fell into a cycle of cocaine abuse that, by his own admission, saw him “high most of the time” for several years. Speaking recently, the champion cyclist explained how the situation became so grave that his own son feared he might one day discover his father dead.
“There were times my son thought he might find me dead in the morning,” Wiggins shared in a frank interview. He went on to describe himself as a “functioning addict”, noting that those around him were largely unaware of his double life. “People wouldn’t realise. I was doing huge amounts of cocaine. My children were preparing to get me into rehab. I was walking a tightrope,” he added.
The revelations shed light on the complex relationship many athletes have with their identity upon retiring from sport, and the personal battles that can emerge once the cycle of competition and structured living comes to an end. Wiggins revealed that amid his struggles with substances, he was also grappling with longstanding issues of self-hatred and emotional pain, much of which he attributes to his troubled upbringing and difficult relationships.
Discussing the roots of his self-destructive behaviour, Wiggins said: “It was a form of self-harm and self-sabotage. I was not living as the person I wanted to be, and I acknowledged I was causing hurt to those around me.” He went on to disclose that he eventually came to a stark realisation about the severity of his addiction: “I realised I had a huge problem. I had to stop. I’m lucky to be alive.”
Compounding these difficulties, Wiggins’ post-retirement life saw him struggle with financial woes, with court documents in June 2024 revealing he had been declared bankrupt after failing to resolve debts amounting to £1 million. Once boasting a net worth exceeding £13 million, Wiggins’ financial and personal fortunes appeared to reach their nadir. Following his divorce in 2020, it was reported that the sporting icon no longer had a permanent address and was “sofa surfing”.
During this period of extreme vulnerability, Wiggins found an unlikely source of support in Lance Armstrong, the disgraced former cyclist whose own career was wrecked by doping scandals. “Lance really helped me,” Wiggins told the Telegraph, revealing that Armstrong paid for his therapy and offered valuable advice as someone who shared a similar upbringing and faced analogous challenges. Although Wiggins sombrely acknowledged Armstrong’s controversial past, he credited him for his staunch human support during his darkest days.
The former champion’s account is a sobering reminder that sporting glory can be accompanied by substantial personal risk, particularly when the applause fades. His willingness to speak openly about his journey through addiction and recovery underscores the importance of mental health awareness and support for athletes transitioning into new chapters of life.
Sir Bradley’s story resonates far beyond cycling. It is a testament to the enduring struggles that can afflict even the most successful individuals and highlights the need for compassion, understanding, and mental health resources for former athletes and their families. While Wiggins describes himself as fortunate to have survived his ordeal, his reflections serve as both a warning and an inspiration to others grappling with similar challenges.