Mirabai Chanu Reveals Constant Training, Weight Concerns Even During Family Time

Mirabai Chanu, India's celebrated weightlifter, reveals the relentless mental dedication required to excel in her sport. Even during family time, the pressures of training and weight management are always present, she confessed. The silver medalist in the 49kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is currently focused on preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships.

"We do get some rest, particularly after major events like the Asian Games or Olympics. I also took some time off, but then I resumed training," Chanu said during her appearance on the "Game On" podcast. "Spending time with family is crucial, especially after dedicating so much time to training. It's important to relax a little."

However, the respite is temporary. "Now, it's time to get back to training. The Commonwealth Championships are next, serving as a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. Our full focus is on that, and our preparations are entirely geared towards it."

The life of a top athlete involves sacrifices. "We don’t really get to enjoy traveling. I do go out sometimes, but I can’t fully relax with my family the way I’d like to, because we have to get back to training," she explained. "We’ve already invested so much time, so we have to think about recovery and maintenance. These thoughts are always on my mind. I keep wondering: when should I restart training? Will I be able to perform like I did before?"

The mental discipline extends to her diet. "So honestly, we're always thinking about training—even while eating! We think: if I eat this, what effect will it have? Will I gain fat? Will my weight go up? Because of this, we can’t even eat what we want to."

Chanu admits her love for 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 medal collection includes:

• Olympic silver
• World Championships gold and silver
• Two Commonwealth Games golds and a silver
• Asian Championships bronze