Bradley Wiggins Opens Up About Life After Cycling: From Homelessness to Recovery
In a candid interview with The Times, cycling legend Bradley Wiggins shared his tumultuous journey since retiring from the sport. The 45-year-old revealed shocking details about his struggles with addiction, including periods of homelessness where he found himself "sleeping on park benches" and even using cocaine off his Olympic gold medal.
Reflecting on his past, Wiggins admitted, "I was high most of the time," during a period when he consumed staggering amounts of cocaine—up to 120 grams over two weeks in hotel rooms. This stark contrast to his illustrious career, which saw him become the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France in 2012 and secure gold medals in four consecutive Olympic Games, is a tale of a dramatic fall from grace.
Wiggins faced the devastating consequences of addiction, losing his marriage, his home, and nearly his life. In a sobering reality, he filed for bankruptcy last year, with debts reaching up to £1 million. However, in a remarkable turnaround, he has recently shared that he is now “out of bankruptcy” and has more work than he can handle. “I’m earning more money than I’ve earned in the past six years. I’ve got my own house. I’m not homeless anymore,” he stated, reflecting on how far he has come in just a year.
The former cyclist’s challenging times included sleeping in crack houses or, when fortunate, at the home of his ex-wife. At one point, he even contemplated selling his cherished gold medals. In an excerpt from his upcoming book, The Chain, Wiggins recounted a heart-wrenching episode where he smashed his Sports Personality of the Year trophy, declaring, “This isn’t success.” He described the moment as a painful acknowledgment of his struggles, stating, “The gold medal, the Tour de France… All of it was dead to me.”
Wiggins also spoke about the "Jiffy-gate" scandal involving Team Sky and former doctor Richard Freeman, who faced a four-year ban for doping-related offenses. Despite the controversy surrounding his achievements, Wiggins maintains his innocence, asserting that there was “something greater going on” and expressing frustration over how he was treated by the team.
In addition to his battles with addiction, Wiggins has bravely opened up about being groomed and sexually abused by his coach at the age of 13. However, he has since conquered his drug addiction and is now focused on his career and personal life, enjoying a new chapter filled with hope and recovery.
This story serves not only as a reminder of the challenges that can follow success but also as an inspiration for those facing their own struggles. Wiggins’ journey from addiction to recovery highlights the importance of resilience and the possibility of rebuilding one’s life, no matter how difficult the circumstances may seem.
