Abi Kim is an amazing soccer player, as Sarah Low showed so convincingly in her article last week (“Islander to play for U.S. at Under-20 World Cup, Aug. 1). Only a tiny percentage of women have the requisite athleticism and drive to compete at the very highest level of the sport. Abi is on track to do just that, to the Olympics and beyond.

Elite high school athletes generally specialize in a single sport these days. Abi, however, also competed in track and field during her high school years at Seattle Christian High School. In truth, Abi didn’t compete — she dominated. Her terrific speed and jumping ability were just too much for her competitors. Abi ran the 100 and 200 meters and also competed in the long jump. She qualified in all three events for the Washington State track and field championship meet in her freshman, sophomore and junior years, but was unable to participate in her senior year, when she instead attended U.S. national soccer camp. In the three years she competed in the state meet, Abi had a total of nine events. She won all three events in her freshman and sophomore years, then won the 100 and 200, to go with second place in the long jump as a junior. Three years at a major meet, nine events, eight wins, one second place. I’d call that domination.

With all her athletic accomplishments, it is easy to make the case that Abi Kim is the greatest athlete, male or female, who ever lived on Vashon.

— Todd Pearson