Turkish shooter goes viral for ‘casually’ winning silver medal at Olympics

WEB DESK: Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec has captured global attention with his distinctive approach to the sport, earning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dikec’s relaxed demeanour, coupled with his unorthodox attire, has become a viral sensation on social media.

Images circulating online depict the 51-year-old competitor in a T-shirt with one hand casually tucked into his pocket, sporting ordinary prescription glasses and a composed expression.

This stark contrast to the heavily specialised gear worn by other competitors, such as his Serbian rival Damir Mikec, has led to comparisons with everyday individuals or even fictional characters.

Dikec’s unconventional style includes the absence of standard shooting goggles and ear protection, which are typical among Olympic shooters. Instead, he used only basic earplugs and his regular glasses.

Despite this minimal equipment, he, alongside partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, secured Turkey’s first-ever Olympic medal in shooting by taking second place in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol event.

The viral photograph of Dikec, showing him in action with a relaxed posture and limited gear, has garnered over 21 million views on X, formerly known as Twitter. The image has sparked widespread admiration and amusement, highlighting his impressive achievement with a nonchalant attitude.

Dikec, who has competed in every Summer Olympics since 2008, achieved his first Olympic medal on Tuesday. The contrast between his casual approach and the more traditional gear of his peers has led to a wave of praise from the online community.

One user remarked, “I love how everyone uses specialized lenses for shooting to avoid blur and increase precision… But then Turkey sends out a guy who looks like he just picked up the gun for fun and wins silver.”

Another added, “This is what you call aura. 51-year-old Yusuf Dikec of Turkey shows up without any specialist equipment for shooting, looking like he just came out of the crowd and gave it a go… he just casually took home silver at the Olympics.”

The buzz surrounding Dikec’s performance not only underscores his remarkable skill but also his unique presence at the Games.