EXPRESS INFORMER > News & Politics > Michael Klim looks frail as he uses a walking stick during outing with girlfriend Michelle in LA
Michael Klim looks frail as he uses a walking stick during outing with girlfriend Michelle in LA
October 12, 2022 Express Informer
Michael Klim, 45, looks frail as he uses a walking stick while out with his girlfriend Michelle Owen in Los Angeles as he vows to fight rare neurological disorder by seeking out the world's best doctors
By Mary Mrad For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 05:09 BST, 12 October 2022 | Updated: 06:14 BST, 12 October 2022
Michael Klim looked frail as he used a walking stick in Los Angeles on Wednesday, amid his battle with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).
The Australian swimming legend, 45, leaned on the walking aid as he stepped out with his girlfriend Michelle Owen.
Despite his setbacks, the six-time Olympic medallist says he remains determined to battle CIDP and will continue to seek treatment from some of the best neurological experts in Australia and around the world, including the Mayo Clinic in the US which is a leader in the treatment of the disorder.
Michael Klim, 45, looked frail as he used a walking stick during an outing with his girlfriend Michelle Owen in Los Angeles on Wednesday
The father-of-three dressed casually in an all-black ensemble as he went on a stroll with Michelle.
Klim wore black jeans, a matching coloured T-shirt, sneakers and held a backpack for the outing.
Meanwhile, Michelle looked stylish in black pants, a white buttoned shirt and black sneakers.
The sighting comes after Klim recently provided a startling update on his battle with neurological disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and revealed he can no longer travel to Australia due to his worsening condition.
Speaking to former Olympic teammate Brett Hawke on his popular podcast, Klim – who was diagnosed with CIDP in 2020, also confirmed that he is under financial stress after stepping down from his role in his successful skincare line due to his illness.
The father-of-three dressed casually in an all-black ensemble as he went on a stroll with Michelle
The father-of-three revealed his mobility is now so affected that he can no longer leave his adopted home of Bali and make trips to Australia as he previously did several times a year for both work and treatment.
'I have pulled my focus to the swim academy here in Bali and… we run a bunch of camps and clinics,' the 45-year-old said.
'I have sort of simplified my lifestyle just from that point of view.
'I mean I did use to do 20 return trips to Australia a year for work and whatever.
Klim wore black jeans, a matching coloured T-shirt, sneakers and held a backpack for the outing
'But for now it's just physically… physically actually impossible because (for) myself getting around is not simple.'
Klim said he no longer works for Milk & Co. because of the demands his auto-immune disorder is having on his physical and mental wellbeing.
Klim founded the skincare range back in 2008 and had maintained a sales and marketing position as well as primary stakeholder.
The sighting comes after Klim recently provided a startling update on his battle with neurological disorder chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and revealed he can no longer travel to Australia due to his worsening condition
However he says his inability to travel meant he has had to step away from the day-to-day business – a factor which has added a new element of financial stress.
And in another blow, Klim also revealed that his original health insurance policy does not cover CIDP – a disorder which is characterised by progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms.
As a result his treatment is now completely self-funded – another hurdle which, he says, has placed another level of financial burden on both he and his family.
Speaking to former Olympic teammate Brett Hawke on his popular podcast, Klim – who was diagnosed with CIDP in 2020, also confirmed that he is under financial stress after stepping down from his role in his successful skincare line due to his illness
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