Mirabai Chanu: Olympic Medalist Reveals Relentless Focus on Training, Weight Control, and Sacrifice

Mirabai Chanu, India's celebrated weightlifter, reveals the constant mental presence of training and weight management, even during family time. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the 49kg category is currently focused on preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships.

Mirabai Chanu discusses her dedication to weightlifting on the Game On podcast.

"We do get some rest, especially after major events like the Asian Games or Olympics. I took some time off too, but quickly returned to training," Mirabai shared on the "Game On" podcast series. "Family time is crucial, particularly after dedicating so much time to training—it's important to unwind."

She continued, "That aspect was enjoyable, but now it's back to rigorous training. The Commonwealth Championships are next, serving as a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. Our complete attention is on that, and all preparations are directed towards it."

Mirabai elaborated on the challenges of balancing personal life with athletic demands: "We don’t really get to enjoy traveling freely. While I do go out occasionally, I can’t truly relax with my family as I’d like because we have to prioritize training. We've already invested so much time, so we must consider recovery and maintenance. These thoughts are always present. I constantly wonder: When should I resume training? Will I maintain my previous performance level?"

"So honestly, we're always thinking about training—even while eating! We analyze the impact of our food choices: Will this cause weight gain? Because of this, we can’t freely indulge in our cravings."

Mirabai confessed, "I love junk food, especially pizza! It's widely known. But I still can’t allow myself to eat it. Even during off-season, the temptation is there, but I resist, thinking, ‘How will tomorrow’s training be affected?’ Maintaining my weight, especially at 50 kg, is incredibly challenging. It's a constant battle—training and maintaining that weight. So, even when I desire something, I must restrain myself and prioritize the competition."

Her impressive medal haul includes an Olympic silver, a World Championships gold and silver, two Commonwealth Games golds and a silver, and a bronze at the Asian Championships.