http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1215770/1/.html
It was not that the 24-year-old did not comprehend the news in early June, when the International Weightlifting Federation awarded her an unused quota place for London. It was more the realisation, as she started packing for the trip, that a journey which began in England was about to go full circle.
"Going to the Olympics is very surprising for me, it was such a distant dream when I first started," Wong told TODAY.
"Getting the chance to go to the London Games is especially meaningful as my roots in weightlifting are in England. It is where I picked up the sport, so there is a sense of nostalgia to it."
With historic appearances at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2011 SEA Games along the way, Wong has gone from being a complete novice in weightlifting to becoming Singapore's first woman weightlifter at the Olympics.
In just 37 months, she has sealed her place in Singapore's sporting annals through hard work, sheer determination and no small amount of good fortune.
Had it not been for Tom Yule, the former Olympic lifter who spotted her, or Cyril Martin, the man who took it upon himself to coach her, Wong's journey would have been a far shorter one.
Were it not for the sponsor who took care of her training expenses for a year while choosing to stay anonymous, or the administrators at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) who backed her when she needed time off to prepare herself to represent the country, Wong would not have come so far.
"While winning a medal in London is out of my range, my participation is important not only to uphold the spirit of Olympism but to also inspire and encourage more youths in Singapore to pick up weightlifting."
With her parents Corine and Andrew watching in the stands, Wong will take her place in the 18-strong field in the 53kg event this Sunday. Her aim: To complete six lifts from six attempts.
"I'm in good shape and, having come such a long way, I'll be out to do my best and make the most of this opportunity," she said.
Cyril Martin, Helena's first coach, who will be watching the Olympics from Vancouver where he is visiting his family, said: "Helena has so much potential as a weightlifter and the Olympics would be a great experience for her. I'm pleased to have been able to help her get into the sport. A medal in London looks beyond her but she certainly can do good in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow if she continues on this path."
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