Mirabai Chanu Reveals Relentless Focus on Training, Weight, and Sacrifices Required for Elite Weightlifting

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

"We get some rest after major events like the Asian Games or Olympics, and I did take some time off, but then it was back to training," Mirabai shared on the "Game On" podcast. "Spending time with family is crucial, especially after dedicating so much time to training; it's important to unwind a bit."

She added, "That aspect was enjoyable, but now it's time to refocus on training. The Commonwealth Championships are next, serving as a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. Our entire focus and preparation are directed towards that."

The life of a professional athlete involves sacrifices. "We don’t truly enjoy traveling in the way others do. While I do go out sometimes, I can't fully enjoy it with my family as I'd like, because we have to return to training," Mirabai explained. "We've invested so much time in it, so we constantly think about recovery and maintenance... these thoughts are always present. I keep wondering: when should I resume training? Will I be able to perform at my previous level?"

The mental burden is relentless. "So honestly, we're always thinking about training—even while eating! We consider the impact of our food choices: Will I gain fat? Will my weight increase?" she said. "Because of this, we can’t even eat what we want to."

Mirabai admitted, "I love junk food—especially pizza! Everyone knows that. But I still can’t eat it. Even when I’m not training, I really feel like eating it, but I stop myself and think, ‘If I eat this, how will tomorrow’s training go?’ I have to maintain my weight, especially keeping it at 50 kg. It’s very tough—training and staying at that weight. So, even when I want something, I have to stop myself and say, ‘Not now, focus on the competition first.’"

Mirabai Chanu's impressive list of achievements includes an Olympic silver medal, a gold and silver at the World Championships, two golds and a silver at the Commonwealth Games, and a bronze at the Asian Championships.