It’s 1992.

13-year-old Michael Wong is a scrawny boy of average height. His skinny frame and his lack of noteworthy height made him another face in the crowd, but an innate hunger for success and distinction conflicted with these unremarkable attributes, and before long, Michael took his first step towards proving his worth.

He picked up a basketball.

“Someone told me that by playing basketball, you’ll shoot up,” Michael said, describing those baby steps towards a full-fleshed basketball career that is now basking in its prime. Back then, he merely wanted to “grow tall,” and shooting hoops professionally was not the foremost thing on his mind.

The first days playing basketball were quite gruelling. Michael was one of the smallest in his school team, competing for a place in a game popularly played by burly, over-2-meters-tall men. It was a daunting challenge for a thin teenaged boy under 1.6 meters in height. However, Michael had a mental toughness that belied his physique.

“I didn’t allow anybody to belittle me,” Michael asserts, his defiance against the odds back then evident in his eyes. “I wanted to prove to others that despite my size, I could still play basketball.”

Fast forward to 1998.

Michael’s attitude towards his game ensured he made it into the first team of his secondary school’s basketball team. Later on, he would be one of the firsts on the Hwa Chong Junior College’s team sheet as well. An established player in the school basketball scene, Michael was drafted into Singapore’s national team 6 years after he picked up the sport.

Stepping up to such a high level wasn’t a very comfortable move for the young Michael. He was too lightweight in comparison to his teammates. He found himself constantly out-muscled in training.

“There were a lot of things I couldn’t do,” Michael admitted. It was to the extent that the rookie “did not feel like he belonged (in the national team),” at that point in time. He sought guidance from his coach, who told him that his main weakness was literally his lack of strength. So Michael kept his head down, hit the gym and improved on his physical strength.

And from there, Michael Wong, skinny 19-year-old rookie, fast-tracked to become Michael Wong, one of Singapore basketball’s powerhouses.

2006.

Michael is already an established player in the national team. At this point, most of his friends and teammates were retiring, choosing to focus on the jobs that pay the bills. It was difficult for Michael to see them go, having gone through so much with them. This, and a slew of injuries, made Michael consider retirement. He thought he had finally jumped to a conclusion.

But an immense passion for the game, and an unmoving dedication kept, and continues to keep, Michael in basketball.

In another part of Singapore, Temasek Polytechnic lecturer Elvia Suryadi, urged by a friend, attempts to cycle for the first time in her life.

It involved a lot of falling down.

Indonesian-born Elvia has always been an active person throughout her life, and braving the bicycle was just another challenge to the fearless (then) 29-year-old.

One of the most appealing things about this triathlete is that she does not take herself too seriously. “My friend was like, ‘You can’t ride a bike?’” she recalled with a laugh.

When she became more comfortable on a bicycle, that same friend suggested she try triathlons. As someone who loves a good challenge, Elvia took this one right in her stride. Her friend provided the advice and knowledge, while Elvia provided the enthusiasm, energy and dedication.

So began a vigorous training regime in which Elvia juggles her job as an info-communications lecturer and the three disciplines of the triathlon – running swimming and cycling long, long distances.

The following year, Elvia participated in the Singapore Ironman – 70.3 km of intense running, swimming and cycling. She completed it in an impressive 5 hours, 38 minutes and 17 seconds. If you were to look at Elvia’s pretty, demure and openly friendly visage while she divulges this information to you, the only word to describe how you feel is awe and a slight sense of disbelief.

In mid-2008, all of that almost came to a complete end. While training on her bike, she got hit by a car.

“My bike broke apart. I actually flew 10 metres to the front,” Elvia described that horrific moment. “After that I just lied on the floor. I didn’t even know what happened.” Elvia lost consciousness soon after. Her helmet ensured that was the worst that happened on that fateful day.

Other than a few cuts and bruises, Elvia’s entire left leg was swollen for a good two weeks. This did not serve well for Elvia. “I just got frustrated because I couldn’t do anything, other than lie in bed,” she said. “I was in crutches for a month.”

Now, it’s 2009.

Michael is sporty, muscular, well-spoken, an Engineering graduate from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and an active player in the national basketball team. He’s teaching physical education at his alma mater, the recently renamed-Hwa Chong Institution. Naturally, he’s also in charge of their basketball team.

Elvia is back on her feet since that awful accident. It’s been 3 months since she fully recovered and she’s been training for her next triathlon ever since.

The two share a lot of things in common. They’re both teachers by profession, sportspeople by nature. They don Nike’s spring and summer collection of sportswear – bright colours that have its place in the stadium, and in the streets. They convey vivacity, life.

Life. It has its demanding trials.

Trials, that don’t faze the likes of Michael and Elvia, though.

They just do it.