The 2006 Winter Olympics have been a whirlwind for viewers with the compressed excitement and drama that comes with any sporting event – and most especially with high-level competition like that at Torino.

And Salem should have paid closer attention to the screen than most other New Hampshire communities. One of the town’s daughters, Katie King, helped lead the United States Women’s National Team to a bronze medal this week. This accomplishment built on King’s 44-0 Salem High School softball pitching record, her six perfect games playing for the Blue Devils, and the team’s four class L championships under her leadership.

By 1998, this triple-sport standout had taken a gold at Nagano for the country, and would go on to take silver at Salt Lake in 2002.

While this Olympic season saw King take a bronze, Salem residents should hold their heads high for another reason – King was not among the ugly Americans portrayed at this year’s games.

America’s time as a pre-eminent athletic force seems to be waning, but not from a lack of effort. It seems the lackluster performance among many – not all, but many – athletes is a byproduct of arrogance and hubris.

Prime examples are downhill legend Bode Miller, who was a better performer before the media blitz seemingly inflated his self-image, and snowboard-snowboard cross queen Lindsay Jacobellis, who lost the gold when a show-off move at the end of a race caused her to fall, and ultimately fall behind, within a short distance of the tape.

Perhaps it’s the media attention paid to the athletes, and the superstar status that goes to their heads, which causes them to think they don’t have to push to win, or that some relative unknown from a fractured Balkan state won’t eat them alive if given the chance.

This is where King stands out whether she is wearing a gold, silver, or bronze medal. Rather than simply coast on her laurels, she has pushed – always pushed – on and off the ice. When not competing, she’s coaching.

When not coaching, she’s promoting women’s hockey. When not promoting women’s hockey, she’s training or teaching younger girls about the sport. Through it all, she trains and trains and trains. And never gives up. Never seems to think she’s the best or deserving.

In an Olympics where the Americans are the ugly competitors, it’s athletes like King that remind the jaded fans and athletes the Olympics was once about the game, and the sheer force of will to play the game, rather than the shiny medal at the end.

— Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board. The board is composed of Publisher and President Amy J. Vellucci, Executive Editor Ginger Kozlowski, Managing Editor Christine Heiser and News Editor Susan Clark.