IT is every fulltime bodybuilder’s dream to make a name and become a role model in the fitness and bodybuilding industry.
For Wong Ngai Heong, who prefers going by the name Wong Hong, his dreams became a reality when he became the only Malaysian and one of the first Asians to earn an IFBB Pro card in 2003 — a feat which eventually earned him a place in the Malaysia Book of Records.
When asked how he got attracted to the sport, he said his body responded to weight training when he was in his high school track and field team 23 years ago.
“It was then that I decided to take up bodybuilding as a lifestyle and career. I have been training ever since,” Wong Hong said.
Awesome: Wong Hong with his trophy at the Asian Bodybuilding Championship in Bangkok in October. Six months into training, he decided that he was mentally and physically ready to compete in his first junior competition, which he won.
Sometime after, he left for the United States in 1990 to pursue his higher education, obtaining his B.Sc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and M.Sc in Human Nutrition.
In the five years he spent in the US, Wong Hong did not compete in any competition to focus on his education.
Regardless, he still kept the fire to become a professional bodybuilder by training religiously every day.
“After completing my studies, I returned and immediately started preparing and competing in numerous competitions.
Diligence and hard work in the gym paid dividends when he bagged the Mr Malaysia (1996 and 1999) and Mr Asia (1999 and 2001) titles.
Being a man who always strives for more, Wong Hong decided to challenge himself by returning to the United States in 2000 to compete.
Full of might: Wong Hong (left) at the Asian Bodybuilding Championship in Bangkok. A couple of years later, he competed in a few bodybuilding championships, while simultaneously working as a personal trainer in New York.
When asked what his proudest moment was, he humbly said: “That would definitely be when I won the overall title for NPC Eastern USA and Mr New York City championship, which led me to earn my IFBB Pro Card title.”
Wong Hong has competed in countless Pro Bodybuilding championships ever since.
After a long period of competing professionally, he decided that it would be a greater honour to represent the nation and win medals for Malaysia, instead of just for himself.
Wong Hong was indeed an awe-inspiring sight when he won the super-heavy (above 100kg) category at the Asian Bodybuilding Championship in Bangkok last month.
It was a proud moment for both Wong Hong and Malaysia, as this was the first time that Malaysia had a representative win the category, or even compete in it.
To top it all off, he lifted the World Bodybuilding Championship heavyweight title (above 100kg), which ended in Malacca on Saturday.
“What I had which my rivals did not is having the support of fellow Malaysians. It was a huge boost in terms of morale and confidence.
“To win the World Championship, that itself is a great achievement for me. But to do so in my homeland, that is a real honour,” Wong Hong said.
After his Malacca outing, he will be representing the country at the ProAm Classics in Singapore (Nov 16), Qatar Classics (Jan 10, 2012) and finally, a grand bodybuilding championship that is to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Jan 25, 2012.
Currently, Wong Hong is in the process of opening his new gym KL Barbell Club in Old Klang Road, which is expected to be ready by next month.
As being a fulltime bodybuilder and entrepreneur was not enough, Wong Hong also dedicates his remaining free time on training clients, who have all deemed him as a very patient, disciplined and knowledgeable man.
Apart from being a driven bodybuilder, Wong Hong is also a dedicated mentor to two upcoming local bodybuilders, Kumareswarren K. Ramasamy and Edmond Lew Sern Ying, where he monitors their growth and progress, giving them individual guidance as to how to improve their physique through training and diet, maximising their potential.
As far as future plans are concerned, Wong Hong intends to eventually start his own bodybuilding academy.
“I want to train dedicated bodybuilders.
“Bodybuilding is not very popular in Malaysia but I’m fully intent on changing the face of the sport here.
“It is vital to promote the fitness industry and educate the public of the importance of fitness and health.”
Although he has achieved numerous titles and recognition for his success, Wong Hong is still hungry for more.
“I still have a long way to go and a lot more to achieve.
“There are more milestones to reach, especially when it comes to winning titles and enhancing my physique.”
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