Turkish Shooter Yusuf Dikec Becomes Internet Sensation at Paris Olympics
The 51-year-old shot his way to second place, marking a historic moment for his home country.
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The cool-headed, collected Turkish pistol shooter, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on Tuesday, has become enamored with an online following.
Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec placed second in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol competition.However, what was most conspicuous was Dikec's absence of equipment for the competition—large ear protection or specialty lenses.
The photos that have received the most shares feature Dikec shooting while wearing a T-shirt, one hand in his pocket, regular-looking glasses, and an expressionless expression. He has been compared to an ordinary street guy competing in the Olympics or even a naive hitman.
The 51-year-old is no newcomer, though. He’s competed at every Summer Olympics since 2008.
“I did not need special equipment. I’m a natural, a natural shooter,” Dikec was quoted as telling Turkish media, according to EuroNews.
Teammate Tarhan, who spoke with Reuters, expressed that the overnight celebrity status is well-earned.
“I’m proud of him, but it’s not that he does not have equipment,” the 24-year-old said. “He’s used to shooting with regular glasses and does not need extra gear. It’s a personal thing and he’s comfortable that way.”
Dikec himself seems surprised, if a bit baffled, by the internet’s interest in something that comes so easily to him.
“I didn’t anticipate such a level of recognition,” he told Turkish media on his arrival back to his home country. “Since I shoot with my both eyes open, I don’t find the equipment very comfortable.”
“No lens, no headphones, just vibes,” Eurosport wrote on X. “Turkey’s Yusuf Dikec wins silver and fans’ hearts.”
The viral photo came after South Korean air pistol competitor Kim Yeji also went viral for looking like a movie star during her turn at the Olympics. Her confident demeanor and dramatic stance have brought praise on social media for her “main character energy”.
“The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed,” the official Olympics account on X posted Thursday with pictures of Kim and Dikec.
Kim won silver in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event Sunday behind her South Korean teammate Oh Ye Jin.
