Swimmer Micheal Klim launches charity and gives CIDP auto-immune condition health update
Champion swimmer Michael Klim has revealed his 'favourite things' are 'out of the question' as he continues to battle a rare auto-immune condition.
Klim has launched a charity which funds research into Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy – the same condition which is attacking the former Olympian's nerves.
The gold medallist appeared on Channel 10's The Project to launch the Klim Foundation and give an update on his health.
Fans were stunned to see the handsome athlete, who normally sports a completely bald look, pulling off an impressive goatee.
'I'm mixing it up. I had one look for 47 years. I had to come up with something different,' Klim joked when asked about his new crop of facial hair.
He also added he was 'feeling really well' despite ongoing health challenges.
'My life has stabilised physically and mentally. It's become a – the right time now for myself,
Michelle (his partner), the family, and, the board we put together, to launch the Klim Foundation and get out and help other sufferers. I feel up to the challenge,' Klim said.
Speaking from his home in Bali, Klim added CIDP continues to wreak havoc on his body.
'My mobility is compromised. But I've got some great AFOs, are kind of prosthetics,' he said.
'Some of my favourite things like surfing and playing tennis are out of the question, but I had a ski for the first time in 12 years last year.
'Still a lot of things you can do. So, with the foundation, it's what we're trying to do, enable a lot of sufferers, give them their life back.'
Klim said he not only signed up swimming pals Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett to join the foundation board, but also recruited former rival, American Gary Hall Jr who once threatened to 'smash him like a guitar.'
'Gary – he's a diabetic, he's been in the medical field most of this life. He is probably the only Olympic gold medallist with diabetes,' Klim said.
'He loves Australia, even though some of the Aussies don't like him.
'I'm going to make it my mission he'll be a favoured Aussie very soon.'
People can donate to the Klim Foundation here.
Originally published as Michael Klim sports handsome goatee as he launches charity
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mercury
5 hours ago
- Mercury
Phillip Stokes filly has range of spring options after upset win in Quezette Stakes at Caulfield
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Phillip Stokes has options with progressive former South Australian filly Ferivia, an impressive winner of the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. Ferivia burst through to win under jockey Lachlan Neindorf as John McArdle-trained My Gladiola flashed into second from Thanks Gorgeous and favourite Signature Scent. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'It's very exciting moving forward,' Stokes said. 'Really happy for Lachie too, he's moved over here now and to win a Group race like that. 'We've got a lot of options now haven't we?' Stokes has remained torn on whether Ferivia would be better suited in sprint or middle distances. 'I'm not sure what distance she's going to be,' Stokes said. 'Is she sprinter or is she going to get further in trip? We're going to have to assess all that.' Neindorf piloted Ferivia to victory in a 2YO Benchmark 66 at Murray Bridge last month. The Astern filly placed second at Sandown a fortnight later behind Express Pass, who franked the form on Saturday when third in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m). 'She's a lovely filly on the up and she deserved that win today,' Neindorf said. 'Full credit to Phil and the team … every run she's come through she's gone better, developed and matured into a professional racehorse and it's going to take her a long way. 'She knows when to switch on and when to switch off, she's very kind, she listens to the rider and I love fillies that … because they're not one dimensional. 'She's got a lovely big stride on her and I've always thought she's got the depth to get 1400m or mile … I think she might be on a Thousand Guineas path.' Originally published as Phillip Stokes filly Ferivia has range of spring options after upset win in Group 3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield
Courier-Mail
6 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Trainer Greg Wright has rethink on name change after The Right Way wins again at Doomben
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former Kiwi aluminium smelter worker Greg Wright had been planning to right a wrong and change the name of his horse, but now he thinks it would be a mock. Six-year-old gelding The Right Way won as a well-backed $3 chance at Doomben on Saturday, making it three wins from his last five starts. Pro Tips View All All Tipsters - Last 12 Months Profit Profit 0 * ROI 0 Strike Rate 0 Units Tipped 0 Avg. Winner Odds 0 • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Scoring the BM90 Handicap (2000m) on Saturday was a sweet enough moment, but it was even better with Wright's dad Alister on track. Alister owns the galloper and splits his time between living in Australia and New Zealand. The Right Way was meant to be named The Wright Way, after the son and father team, but the name of the galloper was incorrectly submitted. 'I was going to apply to change the name, but I don't think I will now,' Greg Wright said. 'The horse is winning and I am worried if I change his name I might put the mock on him and he might stop winning. 'This was my first winner in Brisbane, this horse just loves to run and he gives you everything he has got.' • 'I almost had to have a beer to function': How hoop won booze battle When Greg Wright moved to Australia five years ago, he and his dad purchased mainly unraced young horses. The Right Way was one of those and was bought sight unseen on his pedigree by Alister Wright. Trainer Greg Wright (left) after The Right Way's win at Doomben, with Wright's Dad Alister pictured on the right. Picture: Trackside Photography A NEW RACING DAWN? The Brisbane Racing Club is seizing the moment in the quieter months of the racing season and hosting regular themed Saturdays to try to attract and engage new audiences. The recent Teddy Bears Picnic at the Races was one of those days, with a day of fun for families with the jumping castles, a children's disco and pony rides. Saturday at Doomben was the Mekka race day with doof doof music and other dance party style entertainment for the funky young crowd, headlined by Thundamentals. For the racing purists, there was co-mingling between the general admission crowd and the members. • 'Elitist, outdated, unengaging': AI's brutal warning for racing On September 6, there's a country music race day at Doomben and also a special wine lunch with Australian cricket great Ricky Ponting. Also upcoming is a day where 160 years of racing at Eagle Farm will be celebrated and it's understood the entry price on that day will be the equivalent of what it would have been 160 years ago. There's a bit of something for everyone on these off-season days and racing needs to chase these opportunities. 'We have challenged ourselves to look at more ways to broaden racing's appeal,' BRC chief executive Karl deKroo said. 'We are always going to have our rusted-on racing fans and that's great. 'But a big part of what we need to do is to look at our offerings and offer different things on different days.' It comes after artificial intelligence gave a brutal warning to racing, finding it was often 'elitist, outdated and unengaging'. The AI platform ChatGPT found racing should 'rebrand racing days as experience, not just betting events.' Originally published as Trainer Greg Wright has rethink on name change after The Right Way wins again at Doomben
Herald Sun
7 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Revealed: Why Allianz Stadium's $6m turf needs urgent replacement
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. The mystery over the shocking wet weather playing surface at Allianz Stadium has finally been solved after a month-long investigation by engineers and global turf experts. Comprehensive tests on the grass and drainage uncovered soil and sand contamination issues from when the ground surface was first laid four years ago while the stadium was still under construction. A repair job to replace the entire playing surface base and grass is expected to cost $6 million, although building insurance is likely to cover the expense rather than taxpayers. The stadium has its heaviest load this weekend with the Roosters v Bulldogs, Rabbitohs v Eels, Wests Tigers v Manly and St George Illawarra v the Wests Tigers in the NRLW. The surface at the $870 million venue will be ripped up and removed after the Wallabies v Argentina Test match on September 13 and the stadium closed down for 10 weeks. The report found that water on the ground during heavy downpours was draining at only 40 millimetres per hour — just a tenth of the amount that it should be. Acceptable drainage at major sporting venues is normally between 300 and 600 millimetres per hour. The turf experts found the issue at Allianz was caused by having nine per cent of clay in the earth layer below the stadium turf. The maximum level — according to turf experts — should be two per cent; hence the draining blockage and water not getting out through the underground pipes. 'The review further found that when the original sand was purchased and stockpiled it was tested using a method that was not aligned with the project brief,' said a government source. NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper and Venues NSW chairman David Gallop were handed the report last week. 'Both Venues NSW and the NSW Government have been clear from the start that the quality of the surface has not been up to our standards,' Mr Kamper said. 'I am glad that we now have a path forward to rectify this matter. 'I want to thank the groundskeepers and Venues team who have been working tirelessly to make this ground workable, under what we now know, were impossible conditions.' Gallop and his senior stadium staff had been under pressure for weeks to fix the problem. 'Venues NSW remains committed to delivering world-class facilities and experiences for athletes, fans, and event partners,' he said. 'The remediation works will ensure Allianz Stadium continues to meet the highest standards of performance and safety.' The stadium will be reopened for three concerts — Kendrick Lamar on December 10/11 and Dom Dolla on December 20. Sydney FC will return in mid-January for A League games. Their first four matches of the season have been moved to other venues. Originally published as What's The Buzz: Allianz Stadium turf mystery solved, $6m fix needed for drainage
