Mirabai Chanu: From Broken After Rio to Commonwealth Champion — The Story of Resilience
Mirabai Chanu: From Broken After Rio to Commonwealth Champion — The Story of Resilience
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has once again shown why true sportsmanship is defined by the ability to rise stronger after failure. The Manipur-born weightlifter, who claimed gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, almost walked away from the sport after a devastating experience at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her comeback — powered by grit, family support and mental conditioning — is now part of a remarkable career that includes world and Olympic medals.
The low after Rio 2016
Before Rio, Mirabai was one of India’s brightest medal prospects. At the national selection trials she shattered a 12-year-old record by lifting 85 kg in the snatch and 107 kg in the clean and jerk for a combined 192 kg — a performance that raised hopes across the country. But at the Olympics she failed to register a valid lift in the clean and jerk in the 48 kg category, a result that left her deeply shaken.
“I had worked very hard to get a medal during the Rio Olympics… I was very sad, upset and disheartened. I also questioned myself if I should continue in the sport. I was broken.”
How she fought back
Mirabai credits her coach and family for shifting her focus from the setback to future possibilities. Their support, combined with professional help from sports psychologists, helped her reframe the loss as a lesson rather than a dead end.
“Everyone around me explained how life would give me more chances. My coach motivated me by saying, ‘You can still do a lot and we should plan for the future’. That’s when I decided to recover from my disappointment quickly, work harder and focus on my shortcomings,” Mirabai said in a retrospective interview.
Achievements after the turnaround
Thereafter there was no looking back. Despite recurring injuries and physical setbacks, Mirabai won gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships, secured India’s first weightlifting gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and earned a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — becoming only the second Indian woman to win an Olympic weightlifting medal after Karnam Malleswari in 2000.
A hip injury sustained during the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games proved another setback, and she narrowly missed out at Paris 2024, finishing fourth in the 49 kg class. That makes her 2025 Commonwealth gold all the more significant — a confirmation of resilience and comeback spirit.
Mindset: ‘Today may not be good, but tomorrow will be better’
Mirabai places a strong emphasis on mental health and perspective. Her mantra — “Aaj nahin hua, toh kal mere paas hai” — underlines a patient, process-driven approach to sport. She told Health Shots that when performance dips, she reminds herself that life offers another chance.
“If on some days we don’t perform well, we often go into this pressure that we couldn’t make it, and we wonder why. But now when it comes to me, I always think that ‘Aaj nahin hua, toh kal mere paas hai’. I explain to myself that today may not be good, but I will make tomorrow better. Life always gives chances.”
Women in sport: a powerful message
Mirabai has also been vocal about gender stereotypes in sport. She rejects the notion that weightlifting makes women “masculine” and stresses that strength and fitness are positive attributes. Her success underlines a larger message: girls and women can excel on the world stage, bringing pride to their families and nation.
“Some people say, ‘Ladki kuch nahi kar sakti and sports mein medals nahin le sakti’. But we have proven that we can indulge in sports, represent our state and nation at big platforms, and make people proud. Ladkiyaan chaahe toh kuch bhi kar sakti hain,” she said, urging young athletes to believe in themselves.
Why her story matters
Mirabai Chanu’s journey — from the despair after Rio to global podiums and a Commonwealth gold in 2025 — is a case study in resilience. It highlights the role of a supportive ecosystem, professional mental-health support, and relentless self-belief. For aspiring athletes and fans alike, her message is simple: setbacks are part of the path, but perseverance can reshape destiny.
Comments
Post a Comment