Daniel Mercado
Freshman, Marathon
Special Olympics Bocce
“Daniel is a great competitor because he has a high level of confidence in his ability as an athlete and he always keeps a positive attitude.” – Jeff Cox, Marathon High School Special Olympics bocce coach
Marathon High School’s Daniel Mercado brought home two gold medals from the Special Olympics Florida Summer Games last week, delivering a standout performance in bocce competition for the Dolphins.
Mercado earned gold in singles competition and teamed with Unified partner Micah Cox to capture another gold medal in doubles play. The doubles championship came down to the final moments of a decisive third match in a best-of-three series after the Marathon pair split the opening two contests with their opponents.
“With the gold medal on the line, Daniel stepped up and threw the ball right to the pallino to secure the victory,” said coach Jeff Cox. “The team fought hard and showed great teamwork and composure throughout the match.”
On the second day of competition, Mercado continued his dominant performance, defeating every opponent he faced in the singles division to secure his second gold medal of the event. According to Cox, Mercado’s confidence and consistently positive attitude play a major role in his success. Cox noted that Mercado approaches competition with confidence in both his preparation and abilities, a mindset that helps separate him from other competitors.
Unified doubles partner Micah Cox was also impressed with Mercado’s leadership and mindset. “Daniel is a great teammate because he always stays positive and never gives up, even when the games are close,” he said.
For his double gold performance and his willingness to put it all on the line for his team, Daniel Mercado is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.
