Mirabai Chanu Reveals Mental Discipline: Balancing Family, Training, and Weight for Championship Glory

India's celebrated weightlifter, Mirabai Chanu, reveals the constant mental juggling act required to balance family life with the demands of elite athletic training and strict weight management. The silver medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 49kg category is currently focused on preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Championships.

"We do get some rest, particularly after major events like the Asian Games or Olympics," Chanu shared on the "Game On" podcast series. "I took some time off too, but then it was back to training. Spending time with family is crucial, especially after dedicating so much time to training—it’s important to relax."

However, the respite is often short-lived. "That was good, but now it's time to get back to training. The Commonwealth Championships are next, and they also serve as a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games. So, our full attention is on that, and all our preparations are currently directed towards it," she stated.

The life of a competitive weightlifter often involves sacrifices, even during travel and family time. "We don’t really get to enjoy traveling. I do go out sometimes, but I can’t truly relax with my family the way I’d like to—because we have to return to training. We’ve already invested so much time, so we have to think about recovery and maintenance... these thoughts are always present. I constantly wonder: when should I start training again? Will I be able to perform at my previous level?"

The mental burden extends even to meal times. "So honestly, we're always thinking about training—even while eating! We consider: if I eat this, what will the impact be? Will I gain fat? Will my weight increase? Because of this, we can’t even eat what we want to."

Chanu confessed her love for junk food, particularly pizza. "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 dedication has yielded impressive results, including an Olympic silver medal, gold and silver medals at the World Championships, two golds and a silver at the Commonwealth Games, and a bronze at the Asian Championships.