Sir Bradley Wiggins, the celebrated British cyclist known for conquering the Tour de France and securing five Olympic gold medals alongside eight world championships, has courageously shared the harrowing impact drug addiction had on his life after retirement. Following his retirement in December 2016, Wiggins faced a difficult period during which he battled a severe cocaine dependency.
In a revealing interview with the Observer, Wiggins opened up about just how grave his addiction became. “There were times my son thought I was going to be found dead in the morning,” he admitted. Despite being a “functioning addict,” Wiggins was high for much of those years, consuming large amounts of cocaine. His family even considered intervening to place him in rehabilitation.
Wiggins described his addiction as a form of self-harm fueled by deep self-hatred. “I was not the person I wanted to be, and I realised I was hurting a lot of people around me,” he said. He recognized the severity of his problem and the urgent need to stop, emphasizing, “There’s no middle ground for me. I can’t just have a glass of wine – if I have a glass of wine, then I’m buying drugs.”
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Alongside his addiction struggles, Wiggins also spoke out about the challenges stemming from his childhood, including abuse by a cycling coach and the envy from his father, as well as his financial hardships culminating in bankruptcy by June 2024. At his peak, Wiggins was worth over £13 million, but financial mismanagement led to debts estimated at around £1 million and ultimately his bankruptcy. After his 2020 divorce, his solicitor revealed the once-iconic athlete was “sofa surfing” without a permanent home.
Amid these challenges, support arrived in an unexpected form—from Lance Armstrong, a controversial figure in cycling history. Wiggins shared with the Telegraph that Armstrong, who faced his own battles, helped him tremendously by financing therapy and providing emotional support. “He had a very similar upbringing to me – a fatherless upbringing,” Wiggins explained. “He told me, ‘You can’t will this stuff away. You have to sort it out.’ On the human side, he has been very good for me.”
While acknowledging Armstrong’s complicated legacy, Wiggins expressed gratitude for the help, underscoring, “In terms of me being here, being alive, he has really helped.”