Powerlifting is often seen as a test of physical strength, but for powerlifter Gaurii Manochaa, it has been a journey of building resilience, discipline, and self-belief. From overcoming a lack of family support to proudly representing India on the international stage, Gaurii says the sport has transformed every aspect of her life. In a candid conversation, she opens up about the lessons powerlifting has taught her, how it has shaped her confidence, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
“Powerlifting has given me a completely different perspective on life. It has taught me to always give my best, no matter what the situation is. It has taught me discipline and consistency, and it has also shown me that I should never depend on motivation alone. Instead, I should always rely on hard work,” says Gaurii.
For her, consistency has become the foundation of both her sporting career and personal life. She believes the biggest lesson the sport has taught her is simple yet powerful. “The biggest life lesson I have learned is not to depend on motivation. Instead, be consistent and disciplined,” she shares.
The sport has also given her a new sense of confidence, something she experiences in everyday life. “My confidence has increased a lot because now people think twice before picking a fight with me. I’m from the Delhi NCR region, and I work there as well, where people often get into unnecessary confrontations. But when they see me, they think, ‘She’s strong. If we mess with her, it’ll probably backfire on us.’ So they usually keep their distance, especially the boys,” she says with a smile.
When it comes to habits that extend beyond the gym, Gaurii says consistency remains her greatest strength. “Being consistent and regular,” she says.
Like every athlete, Gaurii has faced setbacks, but she refuses to let failures define her. “When I lose, I tell myself that either it was my mistake or it simply wasn’t meant to be. I believe that success is 99% hard work and only 1% luck. So I think, ‘It’s okay. Maybe it was my mistake, or maybe I was unlucky, or perhaps something unfair happened.’ I truly believe that if today is dark, tomorrow will bring light. If it rains today, there will be a rainbow tomorrow. So what if I lost today? Tomorrow, I’ll get back to work with full determination and continue from exactly where I left off. As they say, ‘done and dusted’—that’s the way I look at it,” she explains.
On difficult days, Gaurii finds motivation by reflecting on her own journey. “What motivates me the most is looking at how far I have come. I think about where I was when I first started and where I am today. Sometimes, I look at my old photos or my previous lifting records to remind myself of where I began and how much progress I have made since then,” she says.
For Gaurii, success is not measured only by medals or victories. “Success does not mean that you will always win. To me, success means becoming better than the person you used to be. It means how far you have come in life and whether you have moved forward instead of remaining stuck where you started. What matters is the progress you have made from where you once were—that is what success means to me. Maintaining consistency is also a form of success in my eyes. And if, in the future, I can live my life without any regrets or ‘what ifs,’ that would be true success for me,” she says.
One of the toughest battles she fought was convincing her family to support her passion for powerlifting.
“In the beginning, it was very difficult because my family did not support me. I was a girl who wanted to go to the gym, and at that time, protein supplements were often mistaken for steroids. When I was in school, I used to tell my parents that I needed money for tuition fees, but instead, I would use that money to buy protein. I kept the protein at the gym and drank it there because there wasn’t enough awareness or understanding about it at home. However, as social media grew and my own journey started gaining recognition, my family gradually began supporting me,” she recalls.
Beyond the records and podium finishes, Gaurii is proud of paving a new path for her family. “One thing I am truly proud of is that I made a name for myself. In my family, I am the first person—not just the first girl, but the first person altogether—to choose powerlifting as a sport. I also had the honor of winning for my country. There has never been a sports background in my family, so I am the first one to take this path and achieve success in it,” she says.
Looking ahead, Gaurii hopes her story inspires others to chase their dreams fearlessly. “Do what your heart truly wants, but do it in the right direction. Stay consistent and give not just 100%, but 1000% of yourself. No matter how many odds are against you, never give up. If your intentions are genuine and you are willing to put in the hard work, then no force in the world can stop you from succeeding,” she signs off.
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