Mirabai Chanu: Weightlifting Dedication Never Wavers, Even During Family Time

Mirabai Chanu: Training and Weight Always on My Mind, Even With Family

Mirabai Chanu is the newest guest on the Game On podcast.

Mirabai Chanu, India's celebrated weightlifter, reveals the constant mental dedication required for her sport, even when away from formal training. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the 49kg category is currently focused on preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships.

"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. Spending quality time with family is very important, particularly after dedicating so much time to rigorous training; relaxation is essential," Mirabai shared on the "Game On" podcast series.

"While that time with family was beneficial, it's now time to get back to training. The Commonwealth Championships are approaching, which also serve as a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. Our complete attention is directed toward that, and all our current preparations are aligned accordingly."

She further added, "We don’t really get to enjoy traveling as much as we’d like. Although I do go out sometimes, fully enjoying myself with family is difficult because of the need to return to training. We have already invested so much time, so we constantly think about recovery and maintenance. These thoughts are always present. I often wonder when I should resume training and whether I’ll be able to perform at my previous level."

"So honestly, we're always thinking about training—even while eating! We consider the impact of our food choices. Will this cause weight gain? Will my weight increase? This restricts our dietary choices."

"I love junk food—especially pizza! That’s no secret. But I still can’t indulge. Even when I’m not actively training, I crave it, but I restrain myself, thinking, ‘How will this affect tomorrow’s training?’ I have to maintain my weight, ideally around 50 kg. It's a challenging balance—training and maintaining that specific weight. So, even when I desire something, I have to tell myself, ‘Not now, focus on the competition first.’"

Beyond her Olympic silver, Mirabai boasts an impressive array of accolades, including a gold and a silver medal at the World Championships, two golds and a silver at the Commonwealth Games, and a bronze at the Asian Championships.