Turkish Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikec has taken the internet by storm with his seemingly casual attitude as he secured a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.
Many shooters at the Olympic range in Châteauroux, central France, opt for visors to reduce glare or blinders over one eye to enhance focus. In contrast, Dikec appeared as if he was taking a leisurely stroll, shooting in a T-shirt, with one hand in his pocket, wearing standard glasses, and maintaining an impassive expression. This relaxed demeanor has earned him comparisons to a regular guy at the Olympics or even a hitman.
Despite his laid-back appearance, the 51-year-old Dikec is a seasoned competitor, having participated in every Summer Olympics since 2008.
Memes online have contrasted Dikec with his Serbian opponent, Damir Mikec, who sported a blinder over one eye, a lens over the other, and large ear defenders.
Dikec, along with Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, won the silver medal in mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting on Tuesday. This victory marked Turkey’s first-ever Olympic medal in shooting.
The gold went to Serbia’s Mikec and Zorana Arunovic, while India’s Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh claimed the bronze.
Unlike Dikec, Tarhan competed with large ear defenders, a visor, and braids in the red and white colors of the Turkish flag. She, too, shot with one hand in her pocket.
Dikec finished 13th in his individual event and has concluded his participation in the Paris Olympics. He is already looking ahead to the next Games in 2028, expressing his hope for a gold medal in Los Angeles. Embracing his newfound online fame, Dikec has reposted a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him on his Instagram page.
Following the shooting events, which took place about three hours south of Paris, Dikec and Tarhan traveled to the French capital on Wednesday. They were greeted with cheers at the Champions Park, an open-air venue where medalists celebrate with fans.
