India, Oct. 3 -- That familiar Mirabai Chanu smile was back. One that, in the tiny Norwegian town of Forde, passed through three stages in a matter of seconds.

The first was when the 48kg competitor managed to successfully lift a 115kg bar from her shoulders to well above it. Out came a tiny affirmative in-the-moment beam, even as she balanced herself and the body shivered from, literally, the weight of a World Championships medal-winning lift.

Then, as she flung the bar on the floor, that little smile turned into a glee-filled grin, even as she folded both her hands, bowed and lifted her arms.

And then, when she turned back to join her support staff looking on from the backstage, that smile, still glued to her face, blended into a sig...