Some famous athletes have struggled with alcohol in the past. Athletes may turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism due to the intense pressure in their careers. During their sobriety journeys, they often share their real-life experiences with others. These stories shine a light on the challenges athletes face while dealing with addiction.

When athletes open up about their struggles, they help tackle the stigma surrounding addiction. This can encourage people to seek addiction treatment and realize they aren’t alone in their battles. Despite adversity, they can instill hope for second chances and personal growth.

Here is a list of famous alcoholic athletes and the stories of how they managed their sobriety journeys.

Vin Baker (Famous Basketball Player)

Vin Baker is a former NBA player and four-time All-Star known for his impressive skills on the court. During the peak of his career, he made millions and played for top teams. However, off the court, he battled a serious alcohol addiction. His drinking was so severe that he consumed up to a gallon and a half of Hennessy daily and sometimes even drank or used marijuana before games.

Baker’s addiction eventually led to losing his career, his wealth, and almost his life. He lost everything he had worked for and realized he needed to make a crucial choice: get sober or risk dying. After several failed attempts, he entered rehab for the fourth time 14 years ago and has stayed sober since then. He rebuilt his life, healed relationships, and found new meaning in helping others.

Today, Baker is an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks and runs the Vin Baker Recovery Centre in Milwaukee. The centre supports people dealing with addiction and mental health issues. For Baker, helping someone achieve sobriety is more meaningful than all his basketball successes. He hopes his journey encourages others to seek help and start their own path to recovery.

Jordan Poyer (Famous Football Player)

Jordan Poyer is a star safety for the Buffalo Bills and one of the NFL’s leading defensive players. He has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honours and is known for being adaptable. Despite his achievements, Poyer battled alcoholism for years, which nearly ruined his career and family life.

He began drinking heavily in college, and by the time he reached the NFL, his addiction was out of control. He often blacked out, hid alcohol around the house, and strained his marriage with his behaviour. After the 2019 playoffs, his drinking reached a critical point, and his wife threatened to leave him. That served as the wake-up call he needed. In 2020, Poyer quit drinking, started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and began his journey to recovery.

Sobriety gave him clarity, yet he still felt something was missing. In 2023, he tried ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic, to explore his emotions and understand himself better. During this experience, he realized he had taken his life and loved ones for granted. Now, Poyer focuses on being a better person on and off the field.

Carey Price (Famous Hockey Player)

Carey Price is a professional hockey player and one of the greatest goalies in NHL history, playing for the Montreal Canadiens. Known for his calm and steady presence on the ice, he has also faced a tough battle off the rink. Price has openly shared his struggles with alcoholism, which he used to cope with the stress of his career and social anxiety.

In 2021, Price entered the NHL’s Player Assistance Program and sought treatment. He admitted that drinking had taken over his life, leaving him unhappy and disconnected from his family. Price said he used alcohol as a crutch in social situations but eventually realized it wasn’t helping him. Now sober, he focuses on being present and becoming a better father and role model.

Price’s openness about his journey has inspired fans and young athletes, especially in Indigenous communities. As he approaches the final stages of his hockey career, his impact goes beyond his achievements. Whether or not he plays again, Price will be remembered for his honesty, resilience, and commitment to helping others by sharing his story.

April Hutchinson (Famous Powerlifter)

April Hutchinson is a Canadian powerlifter and currently the North American champion. She recently snagged gold in Panama City and holds the fourth spot globally. Today, she’s an international athlete, but just three years ago, she almost lost her life to alcoholism.

Hutchinson drank daily, leaning on alcohol to handle life’s challenges. Her addiction left her frail and ill, eventually landing her in the hospital. A doctor warned her she had only a year or two left if she didn’t quit. That warning was enough for her to check into rehab in 2019, marking the start of her recovery. After 21 days there, she emerged determined to get fit and took up powerlifting to regain her strength.

Now sober, Hutchinson says recovery is vital to her achievements. She believes quitting alcohol helped build muscle, train harder, and improve her sleep. Her story has inspired many globally, and she hopes to become a motivational speaker. Hutchinson dreams of winning a world title and using her voice to help others overcome their challenges just as she did.

Karlyn Pipes (Famous Swimmer)

Karlyn Pipes is a former world champion swimmer who once seemed poised for Olympic glory. She began competitive swimming at just six years old and quickly made her mark nationally, breaking records and receiving scholarships to prestigious universities. But beneath her achievements, Karlyn grappled with addiction, which would ultimately ruin her dreams.

At 15, she had her first taste of alcohol and instantly felt its grip. It offered a comfort she couldn’t find elsewhere and soon overshadowed swimming as her main focus. By the age of 17, bulimia added to her troubles, leaving her caught between two opposing addictions: seeking control through purging and losing control through drinking. Despite her incredible talent and the opportunities that lay before her, including a full scholarship to the University of Arkansas, her addictions took over. She dropped out after only three semesters, beginning what she refers to as her “lost years.”

For more than a decade, Karlyn worked as a lifeguard and bartender in a party-driven environment that fueled her struggles. By 31, she was consuming almost a litre of vodka daily, stuck in a damaging cycle of bingeing, purging, and unsuccessful attempts to take back her life. Even though she broke a world swimming record during this time, the pressure from success only drove her deeper into addiction. Karlyn’s story is one of remarkable talent overshadowed by alcoholism and the difficult road to recovery.

Adriano (Famous Soccer Player)

Adriano was once seen as the next great Brazilian striker after Ronaldo. He was an up-and-coming football player, famous for his strong left foot and skill in overpowering defences. He played for big clubs like Inter Milan and Parma and wore the Brazilian jersey 48 times, scoring 27 goals. Sadly, his career’s bright future was dimmed by personal issues and a struggle with alcohol.

He started drinking to handle the enormous pressure he faced, and it got worse after his father died suddenly. This tragic event led him down a difficult path, and he eventually stepped away from professional football’s spotlight. Adriano admitted to drinking frequently, preferring to live in his old neighbourhood rather than seeking stadium glory. He called himself “football’s biggest waste” and shared his struggles openly in a heartfelt letter.

Even with his decline, fans still recall Adriano’s extraordinary talent on the pitch. His 74 goals for Inter Milan and thrilling performances for Brazil are unforgettable. Yet his story is a clear reminder of how pressure, loss, and addiction can derail even the most talented athletes. Adriano’s career will always be remembered for his incredible skills and the hardships that ended it early.

Josh Hamilton (Famous Baseball Player)

Former MLB star Josh Hamilton was one of baseball’s most talented players. Known for his fantastic hitting power and athletic skill, he became an All-Star and MVP and played a significant role in the Texas Rangers’ success. But behind the fame, Hamilton struggled with serious drug and alcohol addiction that almost ruined his life and career.

At his lowest point in 2005, Hamilton was using crack, drinking a bottle of whiskey every day, and spending his $4 million signing bonus. After becoming estranged from his family and close to death, he turned to his grandmother for help. She gave him an ultimatum: get clean or leave. With her support and a new faith in religion, Hamilton started his journey to recovery through prayer, Bible study, and structured living to find stability again.

Hamilton’s comeback to baseball was remarkable. After nearly four years out of the game, he returned as one of the league’s best players, winning MVP in 2010. Despite a brief relapse in 2009, he has been honest about his struggles and uses his platform to motivate others facing addiction. Hamilton often shares his story of redemption, stressing the impact of faith, accountability, and second chances in turning his life around.

Chris Kirk (Famous Golfer)

Chris Kirk is a pro golfer with six victories on the PGA Tour, including a recent win at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He’s known for his steady play and nerves of steel. After battling some personal challenges, Kirk’s career reached new heights. In 2019, he paused his golf career to tackle issues related to alcohol abuse and depression. This choice not only saved his career but also transformed his life.

At his lowest point, Kirk had lost the joy of playing golf and enjoying life. His struggle with alcoholism took away his happiness in both the sport and its demands. Seeking help, he returned to the tour later that year. It took time for him to get back in form, but he found a fresh drive and love for the game. In 2023, he clinched a win after an eight-year dry spell at the Honda Classic and received the PGA Tour’s Courage Award for his journey.

Kirk openly discusses his past challenges. He credits getting sober as the key to his success. He believes it’s the best decision he’s made, allowing him to rebuild not just his career but also his love for golf and life itself. Now, he focuses on being grateful and improving daily, understanding that ups and downs are part of life. Enjoying and competing in the game has never been more meaningful for him.

Rich Roll (Famous Endurance Athlete)

Rich Roll is a top endurance athlete and a bestselling author who turned his life around at 40. Once named one of the world’s “25 fittest men“ by Men’s Fitness, he is now known for his ultramarathon successes and inspiring story. Before this change, Rich struggled with addiction and lived a life that almost destroyed him.

In his younger years, Rich was a promising swimmer at Stanford, but drugs and alcohol derailed him. By his late 30s, he was overweight, drinking too much, and facing personal issues. At 31, after several DUIs and the end of his first marriage, he went to rehab and started his path to sobriety. There, he learned the value of honesty, which he sees as key to his recovery. Despite this, he spent the next ten years in a corporate law job that left him unhappy.

At 40, after receiving a bike from his wife and learning about Navy SEAL David Goggins, Rich took up endurance sports. He trained hard for challenging events like Ultraman, pushing himself beyond what seemed possible. Rich believes his transformation came from a deep trust in following his instincts rather than sticking to the usual path. Today, Rich inspires many with his story of perseverance, showing it’s never too late to change your life.