Bradley Wiggins has endured a battle with substance abuse since retiring from cycling, with the Olympic hero previously announcing his divorce and filing for bankruptcy
Sir Bradley Wiggins has battled with substance abuse since retiring from cycling in 2016. The 45-year-old was a Team GB hero, having won five Olympic golds and he became the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France in 2012.
Unfortunately, Wiggins struggled after leaving the sport behind and developed a cocaine addiction. He has spoken openly about his mental health and told The Times that his children Ben and Isabella had previously attempted to get their dad help.
In June 2024, Wiggins filed for bankruptcy. However, Wiggins recently revealed that he was set to undergo trauma counselling at a rehabilitation clinic after Lance Armstrong reached out to the cycling icon.
“I still speak to him and see [Armstrong],” Wiggins said. “I’m off to America on Friday. He’s paid for me to go and see a top trauma counselling clinic in Utah, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Wiggins has been in recovery from cocaine for a year. His new autobiography, The Chain, discusses several incidents that illustrate how his life spiralled after he stepped away from cycling.
Samshed up knighthood
In the book, Wiggins admitted that in the past, he had partly blamed his substance abuse issues on his success. He recalled the time that he smashed up his accolades in front of his two oldest children Isabella and Ben.
“I raged as I smashed up my 2012 trophy for Sports Personality of the Year and my knighthood: ‘This isn’t success,’” he said.
“I did that in front of my kids. No wonder there were times when they talked about trying to put me in rehab.”
Olympic medal shame
Wiggins confessed to taking drugs off his Olympic gold medal while in the depths of his substance abuse problem. He explained that, at the time, it was a way for Wiggins to hit back at the thing he believed had caused his drug issues.
“The desecration of my Olympic medal might have happened away from [the children’s] gaze but it’s equally sad to reflect on,” he admitted. “Hundreds of thousands of people roaring me on, millions more watching at home.
“One of the great moments of London 2012, and there I am in a wardrobe, snorting cocaine [off my gold medal], mocking my achievement, hating it for what I believed it had brought me.”
Announcing split on Twitter
Wiggins announced his split from wife Catherine on social media in 2020. The couple had been together since 2002, welcoming son Ben and daughter Isabella during their relationship.
As a result of his drug problem, Wiggins eventually moved out of the family home in 2019. He announced their split a year later on social media without consulting Catherine, according to the Daily Mail. Their divorce was made official last year, although they maintain a good relationship.
He posted: “It is with deep sadness my wife Cath and I have decided to separate. Our two children remain our priority and we ask for privacy at this time. Brad & Cath.”
In his book, Wiggins reflected on how his troubles had impacted his ex-wife. “Cath is as big a casualty of the past 12 years as anyone. She paid the ultimate price for being my wife,” he wrote.