Yusuf Dikeç Wins Turkey’s First-Ever Olympic Shooting Medal with Casual Flair, Olympic target shooting has often been overlooked in the Summer Games — that is, until pistol shooter Yusuf Dikeç burst onto the scene with his remarkable presence.
The Turkish competitor gained widespread attention after securing a silver medal in the team event, all while casually placing one hand in his pocket and donning what appeared to be reading glasses. In contrast to his competitors, who sported high-tech goggles and specialized gear, Dikeç confidently proclaimed that he didn’t require all the extravagant equipment to earn his medal.
“I didn’t need any special gear. I’m a natural, a natural shooter,” Dikeç stated in an interview with Turkish media.
In Olympic shooting, athletes typically utilize specialized equipment such as:
- A lens to prevent blur
- A lens for enhanced precision
- Ear protection to muffle noise
Yet here came Dikeç, clinching a silver medal with nothing more than a pair of glasses. pic.twitter.com/tobbeIifiS— Turkish Archives (@TurkishArc) July 31, 2024
Many sharpshooting contestants use special glasses designed to obscure vision in one eye, along with ear protection. Dikeç’s relaxed style, with his hand casually in his pocket, captivated audiences online.
Suddenly thrust into the limelight, Dikeç has been labeled by one X (formerly Twitter) user as the “most famous man on earth.” Since his performance, a flood of memes and posts celebrating the athlete has emerged.
“This is what you call aura… Yusuf Dikeç from Turkey shows up without any specialist shooting gear, looking like he just stepped out of the crowd to give it a shot,” wrote LADbible on X.
This is what you call aura. 51-year-old Yusuf Dikeç from Turkey shows up without any specialist equipment for shooting, looking as if he just came out of the crowd to try his luck… and he casually brought home a silver medal at the Olympics. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ANrB7PyfxP — LADbible (@ladbible) July 31, 2024
Many have humorously compared Dikeç’s laid-back demeanor to that of his fellow Olympians, who went all out with their styles and gear.
Gen Z vs Gen X 🤣(Yusuf Dikeç 73) pic.twitter.com/wO3ibEx6rY— Jeanine Calkin (wants Tim Walz for VP) (@jeaninecalkin) August 1, 2024
At 51 years old, Dikeç has patiently awaited his moment to shine, having participated in every Summer Olympics since 2008. This achievement marks Turkey’s first-ever medal in Olympic shooting.
Dikeç isn’t the only standout from this year’s shooting events. For entirely different reasons, South Korea’s Kim Yej has also gone viral due to her “sci-fi” inspired outfit and her “Main Character Energy.”
“This girl looks like she stepped out of a movie; how is she even real?” another user remarked on X.
Korean shooters are truly remarkable! Here’s Kim Ye-ji casually breaking the world record and winning gold at the #OlympicGames. She looks like she’s right out of a Park Chan-wook film! 😆 pic.twitter.com/jB6wDAEZTN— #FreeDaraSingh (@Ravi3pathi) July 30, 2024
It’s clear that both athletes have not only earned Olympic medals but also captured the hearts of countless fans online.
