Kurt Gouveia notched the final validation needed on an incredible journey, kind of like a world traveler collecting a passport stamp on every continent.

But for Gouveia, his Washington team winning Super Bowl XXII in 1988 was much more significant — even if the voyager in the analogy had somehow made it to Antarctica. That 42-10 victory over Denver made Gouveia one of the rarest of team-sport athletes: a champion at every level, including the highest.

It was even more intriguing because the second-year pro from Waianae was just getting started in the NFL. Gouveia, selected out of Brigham Young University in the eighth round of the 1986 NFL Draft, missed his first pro season due to a knee injury.

So he was essentially a rookie, playing special teams, at his first Super Bowl. His role wasn’t huge, but the stage was and he earned his ring.

At age 23, Gouveia was already a champion at five levels: peewees, high school junior varsity and varsity, college and, now, professional. Here is where an asterisk can come into play for those who want to quibble: Gouveia’s Waianae Seariders met the ‘Iolani Raiders in the 1980 Oahu Prep Bowl; the game ended in a 7-7 tie and the teams were crowned co-champions.

“Yes, those are things I achieved through hard work. But obviously it’s not just me,” Gouveia said in a phone interview from his home in Asheville, N.C., last week. “A lot of the time, I was in the right place, at the right time.”

He was referring to being on good teams. But at Waianae, Gouveia’s omnipresence on the field made him especially tough on opponents.

“I remember Kurt always having this knack of being around the play,” ‘Iolani star lineman Junior Tufono said. “Didn’t matter where he was on the field. If you didn’t find him before the ball snapped, there was a good chance he’d be making the tackle or intercepting a pass, which is what he did against us.

“He was unassuming because of his slender makeup back then. But when he came to make a hit, you could hear it from our sidelines. His timing was impeccable and the angles he took to get to the ball made him unblockable at times.”

Leilehua’s Kyle Mosley set an Oahu Interscholastic Association West Division record with eight touchdown catches in 1980. But in the division championship game, Gouveia was assigned to keep the ball out of Mosley’s hands.

“Basically, he locked me down. I barely got off the line,” Mosley recalled. “He was tough, mean, nasty, big. But quick and fast, too. I couldn’t go through him, or around him.

“He was rugged,” Mosley added. “He was always ferocious, but he was also a good guy. Even though as a Cowboys fan I hated his NFL team, I was rooting for him to win. I have nothing but respect, as for all the Waianae guys of that era under coach (Larry) Ginoza.”

Despite all he accomplished in high school — which included starting as quarterback his senior year, and winning Player of the Year honors on both offense and defense — Gouveia was not considered a prime college football prospect. The University of Hawaii did not offer a scholarship.

“Sooner or later, coaches need to learn to watch the (game) tape, not the stopwatch,” Mosley said.

Norm Chow, then a BYU assistant, did see beyond a 5.0 time in the 40-yard dash, and Gouveia ended up in Provo, Utah. He started two seasons for UH’s rival, extending its losing streak against the Cougars.

Gouveia helped lead BYU to the National Championship in 1984 with 107 tackles. The lack of an offer from his state’s only football-playing school motivated him.

“It’s always in the back of your mind; someone thought you’re not good enough to play at home, and you’re somewhere else,” Gouveia said.

PLAYERS AND COACHES often speak of savoring every moment of championship experiences, because you never know if you will get another.

Gouveia did get to the Super Bowl again, in 1992.

This time, he was a starter, at middle linebacker.

And this time, he made a big play.

Gouveia intercepted future Hall of Famer Jim Kelly’s first pass of the second half as Washington beat Buffalo 37-24 in Minnesota, where today’s Super Bowl is being played. His return to the 2-yard line set up Gerald Riggs’ touchdown to make the score 24-0. He had also intercepted passes in Washington’s two playoff games leading to the Super Bowl.

“I had to earn my way,” said Gouveia, whose pro career spanned 13 NFL seasons, plus one in the XFL. “At first it was about getting on special teams and contributing that way, and then getting on as a starter. It took six or seven years to really become a solid starter. Before that I would go in on third down and cover the back, when I was young and could run. That gave me a way of getting on the roster. I took pride in being on special teams. To me, everyone on special teams is a starter. Especially kickoff. That’s the first play of the game.”

Like Gouveia in 1988, Philadelphia’s Kamu Grugier-­Hill, a Kamehameha graduate, is listed today as a linebacker. Both played safety at lower levels of football. Gouveia also played for the Eagles (as well as the Chargers). Grugier-Hill is even the same age Gouveia was in his first Super Bowl.

And also like Gouveia 30 years ago, Grugier-Hill will likely perform mostly or exclusively on special teams today.

Gouveia never filled in as a kicker in an NFL game as Grugier-Hill did this season, but he would have if needed.

“The more you can do, the more value you have and they can’t get rid of you,” he said. “Obviously someone gave (Grugier-Hill) some good advice that if you want to be in the professional ranks you should embrace special teams.”

You hear that about the kicking game often from coaches, and that is what Gouveia is now. His resume includes stints at UH as a student assistant under June Jones and, later, outside linebackers coach on Norm Chow’s staff.

He is now defensive coordinator at Brevard College in North Carolina, a Division III school.

“I started something I didn’t have a chance to finish there in 1-1/2 years,” Gouveia said. “But never say never. Not to say I’ll be back; we’ll see. Right now I’m gaining experience as a coordinator, which I love.”

Gouveia said there is no one moment from either Super Bowl that stands out to him. But he is in awe of the game in which he excelled.

“Just the whole experience in the NFL,” he said. “Sometimes I sit back at age 53, watching the game, and sometimes I’m baffled and dumbfounded. ‘Wow, I actually played in that game, affected that game at one time or another.’ Such great athletes, playing at the highest level.”

And Kurt Gouveia won at that level — as he did at all of them.