Olympic gold medalist Michael Klim has revealed that he has a terminal disorder, which means he is unable to walk unaided.
The former swim star was diagnosed in 2020 with chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy (CIDP), an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheaths in your nerves, affecting function and weakness in the areas of your arms, hands, legs and feet.
The Sunday Telegraph reported Klim has limited leg function and needs canes, braces and his family members to support him.
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“In 2019 I started getting symptoms that I didn’t know were linked to my diagnosis,” Klim told the newspaper.
“I’ve been dealing with chronic ankle problems and degenerative back problems for some time, and over the last few years I’ve noticed, and feet, to the extent that I couldn’t stand. “
After returning to Australia from his native Bali during the pandemic, he required back surgery and IV immunoglobulin treatment.
“Massage, cupping, and acupuncture help, as does regular use of a TENS machine to activate my muscles. I had special orthotics and braces to support my drop foot and weak legs. I can’t walk without them and need a walking stick,” he said.
“My diet has required a lot of attention. I’ve tried the carnivore diet as an elimination process, which seemed to work, so I try to stick to mostly carnivores. “
Klim will appear on the project on Sunday night, where he tells the hosts he has relied on alcohol to numb the pain.
“People I’ve told or spoken to about my CIDP have said, oh you’re an Olympic athlete, you have that mental toughness to get through this,” he says on Ten.
“And it actually wasn’t necessarily the case. It’s not like I can do any extra exercises or this or that, if anything, I was more desperate. And it’s more depressing.
“I went through phases where I even drank too much and tried to numb the pain.
“I give myself about an hour a day to apologize, be angry and frustrated, and whatever else comes to my mind, and then move on with the rest of life.”
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Klim won four medals, including gold in the 4×100 and 4x200m freestyle, and twice held the world record in the 100m butterfly.