Mark Swiconek is a Hernando County athlete who has represented the county numerous times at the Special Olympics Florida Athlete Congress in Tallahassee. The Athlete Congress is a forum where delegates with intellectual disabilities from throughout Florida work to recommend policy and set direction for the Special Olympics movement. Swiconek was selected as the Special Olympics Florida Global Messenger. He won a bronze medal at the Special Olympics National Games in the 1,500 meter race/walk.