By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

News Junction

Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    UK plans to end ‘failed experiment’ in immigration
    UK plans to end ‘failed experiment’ in immigration
    May 11, 2025
    Vladimir Putin’s offer of direct talks with Ukraine is the latest attempt to avoid committing to a 30-day ceasefire | World News
    Vladimir Putin’s offer of direct talks with Ukraine is the latest attempt to avoid committing to a 30-day ceasefire | World News
    May 11, 2025
    Putin proposes direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on May 15 | Russia-Ukraine war News
    Putin proposes direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on May 15 | Russia-Ukraine war News
    May 11, 2025
    Why is Germany such a mess? — RT World News
    Why is Germany such a mess? — RT World News
    May 11, 2025
    Pope Leo explains name: AI, worker rights
    Pope Leo explains name: AI, worker rights
    May 11, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    August 18, 2024
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    August 18, 2024
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    August 18, 2024
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    August 18, 2024
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    August 18, 2024
  • Cryptocurrency
    CryptocurrencyShow More
    Bitcoin Price (BTC) News: 5K in Play
    Bitcoin Price (BTC) News: $105K in Play
    May 11, 2025
    Price analysis 3/17: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, PI
    Price analysis 3/17: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, PI
    May 11, 2025
    Why is Ethereum (ETH) price up today?
    Why is Ethereum (ETH) price up today?
    May 11, 2025
    Bitcoin SV investors attempt to resurrect 2019 Binance lawsuit
    Bitcoin SV investors attempt to resurrect 2019 Binance lawsuit
    May 11, 2025
    Ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor touts Irish Bitcoin reserve in presidential bid
    Ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor touts Irish Bitcoin reserve in presidential bid
    May 11, 2025
  • Technology
    TechnologyShow More
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    August 18, 2024
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    August 18, 2024
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    August 18, 2024
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    August 18, 2024
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    August 18, 2024
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Reading: Olympic legend Michael Klim reveals devastating details of his ‘tough’ four-year battle with rare autoimmune disorder which left him unable to walk
Share
Font ResizerAa

News Junction

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Trend
  • Entertainment
Search
  • Recent Headlines in Entertainment, World News, and Cryptocurrency – NewsJunction
  • World News
  • Business
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
News Junction > Blog > Entertainment > Olympic legend Michael Klim reveals devastating details of his ‘tough’ four-year battle with rare autoimmune disorder which left him unable to walk
Olympic legend Michael Klim reveals devastating details of his ‘tough’ four-year battle with rare autoimmune disorder which left him unable to walk
Entertainment

Olympic legend Michael Klim reveals devastating details of his ‘tough’ four-year battle with rare autoimmune disorder which left him unable to walk

Published August 3, 2024
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

Michael Klim has revealed devastating details of his ‘tough’ four-year battle with a rare autoimmune disorder which left him unable to walk.

The Aussie swimming legend, 46, was diagnosed with the neurological disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in 2020.

The former Olympian has spoken openly about the challenging diagnosis, which saw him lose the ability to walk in just six months and left him bedridden.

CIDP causes the body to attack its own tissue – the myelin sheaths which insulate and protect the nerves – causing weakness and lack of feeling in the arms and legs.

Now, Klim has detailed his ‘tough’ four-year battle with the disorder and spoke about the mental challenge of going from being an Olympian to not being able to walk.

Speaking at Drew Barrymore and Wanderlust’s True North event in Sydney on Friday, Klim explained how his leg muscles began ‘disappearing’ as he deteriorated.

‘I had a lot of neural symptoms early on – most people would get cold feet at nighttime or you’d get a tingling on your quad – but I started getting these random feelings in my legs and they started progressing and getting worse,’ he shared.

‘Towards the end, my legs would give way on me when I was walking back. All my other aches and pains started popping up even more, affecting my everyday lifestyle from my ankle to my back.

Michael Klim (pictured) has revealed devastating details of his ‘tough’ four-year battle with a rare autoimmune disorder which left him unable to walk

The swimming legend, 46, was diagnosed with the neurological disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in 2020 (he is previously pictured in hospital)

The swimming legend, 46, was diagnosed with the neurological disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in 2020 (he is previously pictured in hospital) 

‘I just almost got tipped over the edge, and within six months, I could not walk. I lost all functionality from the knees down, my muscles were literally just disappearing.

‘As many races as I wanted to do, nothing was making them go and activating those muscles.’

Klim – who is now able to walk with the assistance of a cane – admitted the diagnosis also took a mental toll as he struggled to come to terms with his physical symptoms.

‘It was really confronting mentally, not just physically,’ he explained while speaking to press ahead of actress Drew’s talk event at the ICC Theatre.

‘I could look down and see these sticks hanging off my body, which for someone that used to pride myself on my physical ability, that was taken away within six months.’

Klim undergoes rehabilitation including plasma treatment, which has helped him to become more mobile by reducing inflammation and restoring nerve damage.

‘The last two years have been OK, but the first two were pretty tough,’ he confessed as he discussed the challenges of being diagnosed amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Speaking at Drew Barrymore and Wanderlust's True North event in Sydney on Friday, Klim (pictured right) detailed the mental toll that came with the challenging diagnosis

Speaking at Drew Barrymore and Wanderlust’s True North event in Sydney on Friday, Klim (pictured right) detailed the mental toll that came with the challenging diagnosis 

Klim (pictured in 2012)candidly spoke about the mental challenge of going from being an Olympic athlete to being unable to walk as his legs deteriorated from the condition

Klim (pictured in 2012)candidly spoke about the mental challenge of going from being an Olympic athlete to being unable to walk as his legs deteriorated from the condition 

He also praised his girlfriend Michelle Owen (both pictured) for her support over the past four years as he admitted it has been a difficult journey

He also praised his girlfriend Michelle Owen (both pictured) for her support over the past four years as he admitted it has been a difficult journey 

He also praised his girlfriend Michelle Owen for her support over the past four years as he admitted it has been a difficult journey.

Klim first unveiled his romance with DJ Michelle in October 2019, three years after his split from his model ex-wife Lindy Klim in 2016 after 10 years of marriage.

Balinese princess Lindy has since married property developer Adam Ellis and the pair welcomed a daughter Goldie together in 2017. 

Klim and Lindy remain on good terms, often spending time together with their new partners while co-parenting their three children – Stella, 17, Rocco, 15 and Frankie, 12.

Swimmer Klim is arguably best known for his huge triumph at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where he took home gold for Australia.

In the 4x200m freestyle relay, Klim sent crowds wild when he broke the world record in the first leg of the race, setting his team up for triumph.

Alongside Ian Thorpe, Chris Fydler and Ashley Callus, Klim took the gold medal home, with the previously unbeaten Americans instead nabbing the silver.

Speaking about the landmark achievement on Friday, Klim described the world-famous moment as one of the biggest challenges in his swimming career.

‘That was the biggest challenge we could have had, taking on the Americans, who have never lost the event,’ he shared.

Klim was previously married to Lindy Klim and they share kids Stella, 17, Rocco, 15 and Frankie, 12. Since their 2016 split, Klim started dating Michelle while Lindy married Adam Ellis (all pictured together)

Klim was previously married to Lindy Klim and they share kids Stella, 17, Rocco, 15 and Frankie, 12. Since their 2016 split, Klim started dating Michelle while Lindy married Adam Ellis (all pictured together)

Swimmer Klim is arguably best known for taking home gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2000 Olympics alongside hsi teammates Todd Pearson, Ian Thorpe and William Kirby

Swimmer Klim is arguably best known for taking home gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2000 Olympics alongside hsi teammates Todd Pearson, Ian Thorpe and William Kirby

Klim, who has won six Olympic medals across three Games, admitted he was a huge overthinker throughout his career and relied on meditation to focus on his races.

‘I was very much an overthinker, I’d run over the race in my mind maybe 100 times or more,’ he shared.

The highly-regarded athlete retired from competitive swimming in 2007 and runs a successful swim school business in Bali.

He relocated to Indonesia with his girlfriend Michelle after he was first diagnosed with CIDP, and he is now an ambassador for Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.

#Olympic #legend #Michael #Klim #reveals #devastating #details #tough #fouryear #battle #rare #autoimmune #disorder #left #unable #walk

TAGGED:autoimmunebattledailymailDetailsdevastatingdisorderDrew BarrymorefouryearKlimleftLegendMichaelOlympicrarerevealsSydneytoughtvshowbizunablewalk
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article I Live in a College Town. Here Are the Pros and Cons I Live in a College Town. Here Are the Pros and Cons
Next Article Margex Announces Integration of TON (Toncoin) for Deposits and Withdrawals Margex Announces Integration of TON (Toncoin) for Deposits and Withdrawals
- Advertisement -

Latest Post

UK plans to end ‘failed experiment’ in immigration
UK plans to end ‘failed experiment’ in immigration
World News
Bitcoin Price (BTC) News: 5K in Play
Bitcoin Price (BTC) News: $105K in Play
Cryptocurrency
Price analysis 3/17: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, PI
Price analysis 3/17: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, PI
Cryptocurrency
Vladimir Putin’s offer of direct talks with Ukraine is the latest attempt to avoid committing to a 30-day ceasefire | World News
Vladimir Putin’s offer of direct talks with Ukraine is the latest attempt to avoid committing to a 30-day ceasefire | World News
World News
Why is Ethereum (ETH) price up today?
Why is Ethereum (ETH) price up today?
Cryptocurrency
Putin proposes direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on May 15 | Russia-Ukraine war News
Putin proposes direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on May 15 | Russia-Ukraine war News
World News
- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2’s Biggest Book Changes
Entertainment

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2’s Biggest Book Changes

August 19, 2023
Rita Ora screams while facing terrifying 15,000-ft skydive in Nevada’s Valley of Fire as she takes part in Running Wild with Bear Grylls
Entertainment

Rita Ora screams while facing terrifying 15,000-ft skydive in Nevada’s Valley of Fire as she takes part in Running Wild with Bear Grylls

August 13, 2023
Emmy Awards postponed due to Hollywood strikes | Ents & Arts News
Entertainment

Emmy Awards postponed due to Hollywood strikes | Ents & Arts News

July 30, 2023
The Challenge star Paulie Calafiore comes out as bisexual after elimination from competition show
Entertainment

The Challenge star Paulie Calafiore comes out as bisexual after elimination from competition show

August 19, 2023

About Us

NEWS JUNCTION (NewsJunction.xyz) Your trusted destination for global news. Stay informed with our timely and accurate reporting on diverse topics, including politics, technology, science, entertainment, sports, and more. Count on us for unbiased and reliable updates at your fingertips.

Quick Link

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact

Top Categories

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Sports News
  • Trend
  • People

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    © 2023 News Junction.
    • Blog
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    Welcome Back!

    Sign in to your account

    Username or Email Address
    Password

    Lost your password?