Mumbai, Sep 03: The weight that Mirabai Chanu carries has never been measured only in kilograms. Behind every lift is years of discipline, setbacks, recovery, and the quiet determination to return stronger than before. From discovering an instinctive love for weightlifting to standing on the world’s biggest stages, her journey has been shaped by the ability to keep going when the body, the mind, and the moment demand otherwise. In Femina’s Cover Story, the Olympic medallist opens up about the highs and lows that have shaped her, the lessons she has learnt from injury and defeat, and what it takes to keep lifting when starting again is the hardest part.
Talking about the beginnings of her journey and what first drew her to weightlifting, Mirabai recalls a connection that was instinctive rather than driven by ambition. There was no grand plan when she first discovered the sport; rather she recalls, “I simply loved the sport and wanted to see how far I could go.”
Reflecting on the setbacks that have shaped her journey, Mirabai acknowledges that an athlete’s story is defined as much by difficult moments as by victories. Disappointing performances, such as at the 2016 Rio Olympics, have taught her to accept what happened, understand her mistakes, and find the strength to return to the platform.
“I learned that one competition does not define you. I had to accept what happened, understand my mistakes, and start again.”
Opening up about the injuries that have tested both her physical and mental resilience, Mirabai shares how recovery changed the way she understood performance. “The injuries I went through in recent years made me understand that staying healthy is just as important as lifting heavy weights,” she says.
Looking ahead, Mirabai remains conscious of the competition awaiting her, particularly within Asia, where some of the world’s strongest lifters continue to raise the bar. For, the pursuit remains deeply personal: to keep improving, keep learning, and keep showing up.
Find out more about Mirabai Chanu’s journey and her thoughts on strength and resilience and always returning to the sport she loves in Femina’s August-September 2026 issue.