Mirabai Chanu won her third Commonwealth Games gold and then revealed the extreme physical and emotional toll it took, saying the CWG 2026 title was the toughest medal of her career after three days of strict dieting and dehydration to maintain her weight.
Speaking to NDTV’s Rica Roy after completing the mandatory dope test, the Indian weightlifter described how she had not eaten properly for the last three days and, immediately after the win, only felt like drinking water. The moment that stood out most on the night was Chanu breaking down on the podium during the national anthem—an unusually raw scene for an athlete often seen smiling after big performances.
Chanu’s comments matter because they underline the hidden demands behind elite weightlifting at major multi-sport events: not just the lifts on the platform, but the relentless management of body weight, recovery, and pain that can define whether an athlete can even compete at their best.
‘Every day was about deciding what I could eat’
Asked whether she had finally had a meal after winning, Chanu said she was still at the competition venue and had not been eating properly for three days. “Right now, I only feel like drinking water,” she said, adding she would have dinner later.
On the emotional podium moment, Chanu explained that “a lot of emotions came back at once” as the anthem played. She said this medal “wasn’t easy” because she had to deal with injuries, a change in weight categories, and constant control of her body weight. “Every day was about deciding what I could eat and what I couldn’t,” she said, adding that “age is not on my side either.”
Chanu described the tears as “tears of happiness,” saying she remembered everything she had gone through in the last few years and that she had worked extremely hard for the medal.
The interview also revisited her experience after the Paris Olympics, when she finished fourth. Chanu said she had been struggling with a hip injury and, on the day of competition, was also dealing with menstrual pain. “Every woman understands how difficult that can be,” she said, adding that athletes still have to step onto the platform and compete.
Reflecting on that period, Chanu framed the CWG 2026 gold as a form of redemption “in many ways,” while also emphasizing that winning and losing are part of sport. She said every competition teaches lessons—what went wrong and what needs improvement—and that is how athletes come back stronger.
Chanu now has three Commonwealth Games gold medals and four Commonwealth medals overall. Asked whether this one meant more than the previous two, she said every gold has its own story, but this one was different because of everything she had to overcome. She pointed to weight management, injury recovery, and dealing with pain as factors that made the journey harder than earlier in her career, when she could focus more simply on training. That is why, she said, this gold gave her “immense satisfaction.”
What’s next: Asian Games focus and a message on discipline
On whether fans could expect her to chase another Commonwealth gold in Delhi four years from now, Chanu said her focus is currently on the Asian Games as her next target, and that she would decide the road ahead after that.
Chanu also spoke about India’s weightlifting contingent being smaller this time due to doping-related suspensions. She noted that two Indian lifters had already won silver, calling it encouraging, and said the team would give its best and try to win as many medals as possible. “If it’s not gold, we’ll fight for silver,” she said, adding that the effort would not be lacking.
Calling the reduced squad “sad,” Chanu said India has only 11 lifters and that a full team would have meant more opportunities for medals. She urged athletes to stay away from anything that can damage a career, warning that “one mistake can cost you four years of hard work.” Her message was to stay disciplined and trust training.
To young athletes competing at a major Games for the first time, Chanu wished them well and emphasized the importance of the next four years. She said there will be difficult moments, and whether athletes win or lose, they must stay focused, learn, improve, and keep working hard to make India proud.
