13 Facts About Michael Klim

Michael Klim is known as the creator of straight-arm freestyle.

Michael Klim's father applied for a business visa for Australia, but as the process was slow, they applied for Canadian visas and soon moved to Toronto.

Michael Klim was first selected to represent Australia in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, while still a student at Wesley College, Melbourne.

Michael Klim was Australian Institute of Sport Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999 and was inducted into the AIS 'Best of the Best' in 2001.

Michael Klim was the only Australian to win a gold medal at both the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

On 26 June 2007 Michael Klim retired from competitive swimming; he finished the year ranked 94 in the 100 freestyle with the Olympics 14 months away.

However on 14 February 2011 Michael Klim announced his return to competitive swimming, hoping to compete in the London 2012 Olympics.

Ultimately Michael Klim failed to qualify for the team and he retired from competitive swimming for a second time.

Michael Klim triumphed in the 200 m freestyle and the 100 m butterfly, and added silver in the 100 m freestyle, and bronze in the 50 m freestyle.

In 2002 and 2003, due to chronic back and shoulder problems, Michael Klim was inactive throughout these years.

Michael Klim married Lindy Rama, a former model and fashion entrepreneur, in April 2006.

Michael Klim has since stepped away from that business to establish his swim school in Bali, Klim Swim.

In 2024, his autobiography Michael Klim, written with sports journalist Nicole Jeffery, was published by Hachette.