Olympic swimmer Michael Klim rebuilds his body after shock diagnosis
‘It’s hard to understand’: Olympian Michael Klim makes rare TV appearance to talk about how he has rebuilt his body after his shocking health diagnosis
Australian Olympic swimmer Michael Klim can no longer stand on one leg, but he is still determined to strengthen his body.
The 45-year-old returned to training at the gym with a new fitness regimen to help his body cope with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), the neurological condition he was diagnosed with in 2020. .
He spoke about his life-changing diagnosis on Sunrise on Tuesday, telling co-hosts David Koch and Natalie Barr that the effects of the disease are “difficult to comprehend,” but he’s trying to focus on “the things I can do at place of things I can’t do’.
While the doctors can’t do much to help him, Michael is doing his best with diet and exercise to live his life to the fullest.
“The physical change has been so great that it is difficult to comprehend,” he explained.
Australian Olympic swimmer Michael Klim can no longer stand on one leg, but he is still determined to strengthen his body.
“I’m focusing on the things I can do instead of the things I can’t do.”
Michael had undergone back surgery to help decompress the nerves in his spine and also made big changes to his diet “maintaining a mostly carnivore diet.”
He regularly receives treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, which helps reduce conditions that attack the body’s immune system.
His partner Michelle Owen, along with other family members, have played a huge role in helping him combat the debilitating disease.
The 45-year-old returned to training at the gym with a new fitness regimen to help his body cope with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), the neurological condition he was diagnosed with in 2020.
According to the Brain Foundation, the disorder “results in slowly progressive weakness and loss of feeling in the legs and arms.”
During his interview, Michael promoted Brainwave’s Klim Swim Challenge, which aims to raise $300,000 for the charity to help children with brain cancer and other neurological disorders.
“When I first walked through the ward years ago, I saw the conditions their parents were living in in hospitals with their children,” he said.
For the month of March, Michael encourages everyone to swim so they can stay active and donate to the cause.
While the doctors can’t do much to help him, Michael is doing his best with diet and exercise to live his life to the fullest, even following a “mostly carnivore” diet.