Michael Klim's VERY modern life: Swimming legend reveals the sacrifices he made to keep his family and business together while raising kids in Bali - but there's one person he WON'T talk about

Australian swimming legend Michael Klim has opened up about raising his children in a blended family and the sacrifices he was forced to make during the pandemic.

The dual Olympic gold medallist revealed he has not seen his children since leaving them behind in Bali when he flew back to Australia in July to save his skincare business Milk & Co.

Klim, 43, told Daily Mail Australia his company first took a financial hit in March when lockdown began, and left him with no choice but to return home to reinvent the brand. 

But the move separated Klim from his blended family - ex-wife Lindy Rama-Ellis, their kids Stella, 14, Rocco, 11 and Frankie, eight, Lindy's new husband Adam Ellis and their daughter Goldie, and Klim's new girlfriend Michelle Owen.

Klim was reluctant to discuss his DJ partner of more than one year, but recently said he was grateful for her support during a challenging period. 

He also credited NAB's new Business Fit health and wellbeing program, which provides online support and advice to business operators and staff, for being able to adjust to the coronavirus crisis. 

Michael Klim admits 2020 has been professionally and personally challenging. He's pictured with partner Michelle Owen

Klim said he was juggling co-parenting and running the business remotely when lockdown started in both Bali and Australia.

With Australian employees working from home and new financial pressures on the business, he decided to return home to make sure the company, which he and Lindy started in 2008, would survive.  

'Being stuck in Bali and not being able to travel while managing and motivating the team back in Sydney was tricky,' Klim told Daily Mail Australia.

'There were financial pressures and the business suffered, which forced us to be more innovative and reinvent ourselves.'

'The kids were holed at home as well, doing school via online learning. It's been a different way of life, making sure they were doing the tasks they had to do each day.'

'But they've really adapted and has since gone back to school. Rocco has tennis every day while Stella has dancing and surfing.'

Kilm championed NAB's new Business Fit program which provides online support and advice to business operators and staff during challenging times.

Klim's new partner Michelle Owen (far right) regularly appears in blended family photos with Klim's ex-wife Lindy and her second husband Adam Ellis

Before the pandemic Klim had travelled to Australia once a month for the business, and said he plans to return home to Bali in a few weeks.

'I definitely miss the cheeky monkeys and speak to them every day, FaceTime has been a godsend,' Klim said.

Nor has he seen his parents or sister based in virus-stricken Victoria since January, the longest period he's been apart from them in many years. 

Klim said lockdown had a severe impact on Milk & Co.

'We've had all the pressures everyone else has endured,' he said

'Our focus was on brick and mortar retail where we heavily relied on foot traffic.

'When lockdown hit, people stopped going out as much and then things started to reopen, Melbourne went into lockdown a second time.'

'We had to look at other channels, launch a new website and spend more time on building our online customer base.'

He now has more business plans in the pipeline, including an expansion of the Milk Baby product range and is in talks with major distributors overseas. 

Klim and new partner Michelle Owen celebrated their one year anniversary in August

Klim's Instagram account provides a glimpse into his luxurious lifestyle in Bali, which includes surfing and yoga and being a devoted dad.

Klim was previously married to socialite and princess niece of a Balinese king Lindy for 10 years before they announced their split in February 2016. 

Lindy married property developer Adam Ellis in 2018, a year after they welcomed  their daughter Goldie into their blended family.

Klim avoided discussions on Owen but regularly posts photos of the couple on social media, complete with gushing captions. 

'The past six months has been interesting to say the least... bloody grateful to have you by my side,' he recently posted.

The couple celebrated their one year anniversary in August. 

'You can't explain it, you can't predict it, it just happens! Bloody grateful you came into my life and very excited for what the future holds,' Klim wrote at the time.

Owen has also won the approval of Klim's ex-wife, with the couple often appearing together in photos with Ms Rama-Ellis, her husband and their blended family.

The former Olympic swimming champion Klim has made personal sacrifices to keep his skincare empire Milk and Co afloat during tough time

Following his high profile divorce, Klim said he and his ex-wife were on good terms and maintained a united front in co-parenting their children in a 2019 interview.

'I think we have realised the kids are the priority and all our decisions of late have been in the best interest of the kids,' he told news.com.au at the time.

'The kids get home from school at about 4.30pm and they're either horse riding, swimming or surfing — I'm just like a normal parent in Australia where I've become a chauffer, but I do it on a scooter.

Klim also opened up about how life on the holiday island he has called home for the last eight years has changed. 

'Life on the island is now a lot different after lockdown, which now survives on local tourism and expats trying to stimulate the economy,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 

'Bali is much quieter and not the buzzing island it once was.

'We're still not sure what the new normal is going to be yet.'

Michael Klim is championing NAB's new Business Fit program which provides health and leadership support and advice to business operators and staff during challenging times

Klim looks forward to returning home to Bali to his kids Stella, 14, Rocco, 11 and Frankie, 8.

Klim urges other entrepreneurs to sign up to NAB's Business Fit online program in his quest to help enhance their mental and physical health.

The free program designed to help business owners and their staff be more resilient, transition to new ways of working while sustaining  physical and psychological wellbeing.

New research has found more than four in every 10 people in small business are feeling 'highly anxious', and one in five are 'not coping well.

The free NAB program focuses on three factors- physical health, calm the mind and taking care of business through virtual workshops, podcasts, live wellbeing classes and articles on everything from staying fit to practical leadership skills. 

Klim is still an active swimmer, and is an advocate for a healthy outdoor lifestyle.

It's been 20 years since Michael Klim (third right)won two relay gold medal at the 2000 Olympics i Sydney. He's pictured on night one moments after Australia won the 100 freestyle metres relay in a famous upset over the US.

Klim uses exercise and family and friends to support his wellbeing during these stressful times.

'It reinforces self-care, which is so crucial in these difficult times,' Klim said.

'The last six months has affected everyone in some way.'

'It makes you a better boss if you look after yourself.'

'The calming of the mind has been very important for me when I've been stressed about the future.

'It has been hard trying to be agile while still having a connection with colleagues who may be feeling down or depressed.' 

Michael Klim and his ex-wife Lindy maintain a united front to co-parent their three children. The former couple are pictured with Rocco, Frankie and Stella in happier times in 2014

Michael Klim: From gold medalist to skincare tycoon

1996: Polish-Australian Michael Klim arrived at the Atlanta Olympics ranked first in the world for 200m freestyle.

He was eliminated in the heats for that stroke, but made it to finals 100m butterfly.

He helped the Australian team secure a bronze medal during the medley relay.

2000: The summer Olympics, held in Sydney in 2000, saw Klim nab another two medals.

He placed second in both the 100m butterfly and 100m medley relay team.

His team also came in first place in the 100m freestyle relay 200m freestyle relay.

2004: The Athens Olympics would be the final time Klim competed at the highest level for his sport.

He received a silver medal for the 200m freestyle relay.

April 2006: Klim married Lindy Rama, a former model and Balinese princess. 

June 2007: Klim announced his retirement from competitive swimming.

2008: He and his wife Lindy launched Milk & Co, a skincare brand. 

February 2011: He announced that he would come out of retirement and try to earn a place London 2012 Olympics. 

He didn't make the team, and decided to retire once more.

2016: Klim and Lindy separated. The pair have three children together.