Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim tells how he balances divorce, family and a new career
THE transition from Olympic gold hero to post athletic life is often not an easy one, as Grant Hackett will tell you. But swimmer Michael Klim seems to have navigated the treacherous path.
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THE transition from Olympic gold hero to post athletic life is often not an easy one, as recent headlines with Grant Hackett will tell you.
But swimmer Michael Klim seems to have navigated the treacherous path from pool glory to normal life with spectacular ease — his KLIM by Michael Klim range of men’s skincare is fast becoming one of Australia’s most recognised skin brands and his family life is all smiles, despite his recent marriage break up being splashed across the media.
He split with wife Lindy last year and has a new girlfriend, Desiree Deravi, while Lindy has become engaged to Adam Ellis.
Under the glare of the paparazzi lens, the businessman and father of three has managed to sail through the complexities of a modern family, launch a new skin care range, work on water safety with his swim schools and manage fatherhood split between two countries like he managed his time in the pool.
As a pro.
“The children are the priority for me, making sure the kids have a really good life and all the tools they need is paramount -and for me to provide them with the right opportunities, whatever they might be.
“They don’t need to know about the process of the divorce or anything like that.
“As a parent it’s my responsibility that the kids are happy,” he said during a quick stop over to his spiritual home in Bondi last week — a place he says has the perfect combination of outdoor lifestyle, swimming and surf culture (mind you he prefers mid week over weekend mayhem).
He lives between Bali and Melbourne but says the QT and Bondi are the perfect blend between the two and holds a special place, his most recent fragrance campaign shot at The Icebergs.
As a businessman without a tertiary degree, Klim says he has been able to apply his sense of drive, building a strong team and being innovative, to build the brand’s success.
“I was very fortunate, I swam in a lucrative time in our history, like Grant and Thorpey, and there was a lot of corporate interest in our sport ... but I realised it [swimming] was going to end and I knew I had to prepare for life after sport, and I was very aware there would be a transition period well before my retirement.
“I had family that helped me invest wisely and made sure I didn’t get too big for my boots. And I think I’ve had great management as well who have always kept me in check.”
The 2000 Sydney Olympic relay team he won gold with had a bit of a break after their retirement, he says, but have caught up more often recently.
“When we first retired we were still competitive. Now 10 years on we’re a little more nostalgic …. it’s great to see the families grow and now our kids meeting each other … the picture changes.”
As for his own kids, including Frankie, Stella and Rocco, 8, Klim says he is passionate about water safety.
“I’ve been involved in swim and water safety first swim school since 1999, and [Melbourne swim school] Klim Swim is a way of giving back to the community.
“We have developed a formula and a method we’ve been applying for years … it’s alarming that so many kids and toddlers die. It’s something that we as parents have a responsibility to educate ourselves with water safety in and around the pool. CPR.
“Making sure we have mobile phones switched off and not consuming too much alcohol. That kids wear bright clothing and that learning to swim should be compulsory in our school system and for our migrant populations, who at times don’t make it a priority. There are so many preventive measures.”
His own children, he says, are “definite water babies” although they have been caught in rips in Bali, but are skilled enough swimmers they could get out of danger.
“Rocco had his wits about him but his other friends didn’t have the knowledge and got dragged out to the ocean … teaching kids to swim between the flags, how to react in a rip, reading the ocean … All my kids still do swimming lessons, although they don’t listen to me!”
And, yes, there could be some potential talent there, his son Rocco displaying pool prowess.
“There certainly is some talent,” he said. “My eight-year-old son is showing the right attitude, he hates losing and will do extra laps and tries to get in early. They’re all the signs to see, although he’s still a bit skinny but he’ll grow.”
But there is no pressure from Klim. Even if they don’t make a top level of sport the life lessons learned are well worth it.
“Pursuing a goal, a healthy lifestyle, discipline — I will encourage all of these. They might want to be scientists, who knows, as long as they have a go,” he says of their ambitions.
“I was fortunate, I was successful as a kid and gave me a lot of motivation to continue and sense of purpose. Swimming was the environment I felt comfortable in and as a kid all you want is to be confident and swimming was my vehicle and that’s what kids really need; to find something they are passionate about and do what they love and then they’ll find that circle of friends. Swimming gave me a whole new circle of life.
“I see a number of people who can reach a very high level of success — but I also see it can be measured in different ways. For me it’s still having a great work life balances. Living life and not working to life. That’s the key.”
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