Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim’s devastating health battle

The swimming legend has shared details of his health crisis for the first time, opening up to Lisa Wilkinson about his darkest days.

Michael Klim has shared details of his devastating health battle for the first time.

The Olympic swimming gold medallist opened up to Lisa Wilkinson on Sunday night’s The Project about his chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) diagnosis. It’s a rare type of auto-immune disorder where the body attacks the myelin sheaths — the fatty coverings on the fibres that insulate and protect the nerves.

Klim first noticed symptoms in 2019, but his condition quickly progressed leaving him struggling to walk and dependant on a walking stick or braces for support.

He has now lost sensation in both of his feet, with a little bit of function in his left foot, and minimal in his right foot. He also noticed muscle wastage, with nearly all his calf muscles on both sides lost, along with most of his quad on one side.

TONIGHT in an exclusive interview with @Lisa_Wilkinson, Australian swimming @MichaelKlimAUS tells all about his health battle that is changing his life. Join the conversation from 6:30PM on 10. #TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/Cn6WBdNsex

— The Project (@theprojecttv) July 10, 2022

He has even collapsed in front of his children.

“I might end up in a wheelchair,” Klim told Wilkinson.

It’s a cruel blow to someone who loves being so physically active.

“People that I’ve told, or I have spoken to about my CIDP, they’ve said oh, you’re an Olympic athlete you’ve got that mental strength to get you through this,” he said.

“And it actually hasn’t necessarily been the case. It’s not like I can do extra exercises or this or that. If anything, I’ve been more despondent about it. And it’s more depressing.

“And, you know, I’ve gone through phases where even I drink too much and try to numb the pain.”

Klim underwent intensive rehabilitation. Picture: Channel 10

Klim recalled a particularly difficult experience at the airport.

“I literally had to sit down on the floor. There were no seats through the airport. And I’ve called Michelle and I was literally in tears because I couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

“That was probably one of the scariest moments I had. For me, my ability to do anything physical was something that I used to pride myself on.

“And it used to give me mental strength. And, bit by bit, was being taken away.”

Sadly, things took a dramatic turn for the worse for the Olympic legend this year.

Michelle Owen, daughter Stella and Michael Klim. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“I started going downhill really quickly,” Klim said. “I think from, say, January through till May, I literally lost the ability to get around the house.

“By June last year, something had to give.”

Klim’s partner Michelle Owen, who also took part in the interview, said she’d been lovingly dubbed the “human walking stick” by his best mate Ian Thorpe.

Michael Klim with his partner.

She said of Klim’s deteriorating condition, “There was just one significant moment where Michael kept falling over and unable to hold himself up. And it was happening in front of the kids too, and I think that’s when they really saw there was something going on with dad.

“And it was quite scary for them to see that, and for all of us. And we had to make that hard decision, ‘We’ve got to go now.’”

So Klim flew from his home in Bali to Sydney to undergo a back operation to release trapped nerves, rehabilitation and IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) treatments at RPA hospital to treat his condition.

Klim says he has plateaued out.

He has drastically changed his diet, going carnivore.

Ultimately, he said his condition has stabilised.

“Look, initially, I was thinking, ‘Why was I dealt this card?’ I was feeling sorry for myself. And I almost felt like this was punishment for something,” he said.

Ashley Callus, Chris Fydler, Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe. Picture: Al Bello/Allsport

“I’d give myself about an hour a day to feel sorry and angry and frustrated and whatever else other emotion comes into my mind, and then move on with the rest of life.

“I always thought I’d end up getting a full recovery. But I haven’t had, exactly, a recovery. I’ve sort of levelled – well, I got worse, then I got a little bit better, but I’ve just plateaued out.”

His passion for the water remains, he’s now restarted his swim school in Bali.