- Michael Klim was diagnosed with rare disorder in 2020
- Olympic swimmer says condition has taught him a lot
Michael Klim has revealed details about his five-year battle with a rare autoimmune disorder which left him unable to walk – and the symptoms he wishes he took more seriously.
The Aussie swimming legend, 47, was diagnosed with the neurological disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in 2020.
The former triple Olympian has spoken openly about the challenging diagnosis, which saw him lose the ability to walk in just six months and left him bedridden.
He says he didn’t treat the condition with the gravity it deserved when he first got symptoms.
‘I neglected a lot of my symptoms at the onset and I think in a very typical male fashion didn’t act fast enough,’ he told News Corp.
‘So, if anything comes out of our chat, I hope it’s going to see a doctor even if the symptoms are as simple as getting cold feet when you go to bed or having numbness in your toes or your feet. I neglected some of those.
Aussie swimming legend Michael Klim has spoken about his chronic health condition
Klim was diagnosed with the neurological disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in 2020
‘I had a great team around me but something that was instilled in me as an athlete was that we push through a lot of our discomforts and I continued to do that even in life after sport, which didn’t really lend itself to longevity in life.
‘Unfortunately, I had my very heart stop when I lost the ability to walk and I think it took me about two years to come to terms with accepting the fact – or almost, it was like there was a grieving period of two years of accepting the fact that my physical ability may never be the same, I may never be able to walk like a normal person, I will be compromised.
‘But finding a new purpose in life – I was always very driven and active and very quantitative in that I was very opportunistic and attending many things and being involved in many projects.
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.
Klim says batting the disorder has taught him a lot.
‘There was a lot of time of darkness because there is no cure and you’re living in a period of uncertainty – not just yourself as a patient, but your entire support network.
‘That was the hardest thing. Previously, my injuries – if I had a rotator cuff injury or sprained ankle – I knew the protocol and knew exactly when I’d be back.
‘But this has been something different and something new and it’s definitely taught me a lot of lessons.’
Klim (pictured with partner Michelle) says battling the disorder has taught him a lot
Klim, 47, remains one of the nation’s most popular athletes even though he retired from the pool in 2007
Klim says his rare condition has made him more aware of other people and what they might be going through.
‘Let’s say 30% of people with CIDP may make a full remission, 30% – where I seem to be fitting at the moment – remain stagnant for the rest of their life, and then 30% of people end up with paralysis, full paralysis or in a wheelchair.
‘Even when I wear my braces and I’ve got my pants on, most people look at me and say, “Gee, you’re so fit”.
‘I’ve got my upper body and am still trying to look after myself, but you just don’t know what hardship people are going through underneath.’