The August 17 Edition

Hard to believe, but it’s been 24 years since Michael Klim strummed an air guitar at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Who can forget that splash of sheer Aussie cheekiness after beating the Americans in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay with Ian Thorpe, Chris Fydler and Ashley Callus? Klim was the new golden boy. But, as we all know, life has a habit of pulling dark surprises out of the bag. In 2020, Klim was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called CIPD, causing progressive muscle loss, particularly in the lower limbs. It was a crushing blow for Klim, who’d long defined himself by his strength. Even more poignantly, as Luke Benedictus writes in this week’s cover story, the condition made Klim feel less of a father because he’d always been an active dad, shooting hoops with his son, playing tennis with his daughters. For a time, the diagnosis blindsided him – but, ultimately, he was able to pull himself out of the pit of despair he’d fallen into. Why do some people bounce back from hard times while others struggle? Klim’s story is a lesson in resilience. – Deputy editor, Greg Callaghan