Global soccer star Abby Wambach to visit Coleman Country Day Camp

Abby Wambach, the two-time Olympic gold medalist, will be interviewed by Coleman Country campers and provide soccer tips when she visits the camp in Merrick this summer, announced Camp Director Ross Coleman.

“We are thrilled to welcome the best female soccer on the planet as this summer’s inspirational athlete, in keeping with our tradition of introducing campers to accomplished athletes who also are great role models -- and who have developed the work ethic and self-confidence to succeed. These are people who are living proof that if you ‘dream big’ and work at achieving those dreams, they can come true,” Coleman said.

Wambach, a forward, is captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. She was the subject of an ESPN documentary earlier this month. “She had no idea of the potential she had,” said her high school coach, Kathy Boughton, in the documentary. Ultimately, she realized that her talent alone wasn’t enough, and she began setting training goals for herself.

Abby is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she was a three-time All-American and five-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. As of April 2013, she has 155 goals in 204 international matches. She is only three goals behind Mia Hamm, who holds the all-time scoring record. Mia was Abby’s idol growing up, proving that dreaming big does pay off.

Abby is said to have a head for scoring and a heart for winning. She will be challenging campers to a penalty kick shoot-out.