Rick Swenson, born in 1950 in Willmar, Minnesota, is an American dog musher renowned as the "King of the Iditarod," with the nickname of "The Master" inside the mushing community. Swenson achieved distinction as the first musher to secure victory five times in the 1,049-mile (1688.2 km) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska. This record, established with wins in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1991, remained unchallenged for three decades until Dallas Seavey matched it in the 2021 Iditarod. Swenson, who claimed his inaugural Iditarod triumph at the age of 27, is the sole individual to have won the race in three separate decades.

Entering the Iditarod for the first time in 1976 and placing 12th, Swenson quickly became known for his close finishes. His victories included instances where he won by less than an hour on four occasions and by less than five minutes twice. Over his extensive career spanning from 1976 to 2012, Swenson participated in the race 36 times, completing 34 Iditarods—more than any other musher. He finished in the top ten 24 times and accumulated $612,576 in prizes, ranking third among all participants. Swenson received Sportsmanship awards in 1983 and 1996, along with the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian award for dog care in 1992 and 2004.

Swenson relocated to Alaska in 1973 to pursue sled dog racing and has engaged in various activities such as fur trapping and gold prospecting. A kennel owner and father of three, he is associated with organizations like the Alaska Miner Association and Two Rivers Mushing Association, serving on the board of directors of the Iditarod Trail Committee, which oversees the race. Although he ceased competing in the Iditarod as of 2012, Swenson's legacy endures with his record-setting five championships in the iconic Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Rick Swenson at the beginning of the 2012 Iditarod