Viral Turkish Olympian Yusuf Dikec reveals how he took up shooting sport

Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec, viral on social media platforms for his flawless victory in 10-metre air pistol shooting at the Paris Olympics Games on Tuesday – is currently basking in the global spotlight.

The 51-year-old Olympian took to Instagram to repost a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him, embracing his celebration around the world as giving the “main character energy”.

In Short

Yusuf Dikec’s old video of shooting without even wearing glasses goes viral
Dikec became internet’s viral sensation for his casual avatar while competing for Olympic medal
The Tukish shooter won silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event

With one hand in his pocket and wearing regular glasses, Turkey’s Yusuf Dikec became a fan favourite at the Paris Olympics 2024. His casual appearance with not much professional equipment has been all over the internet. However, it turns out the 51-year-old had much swagger to himself as he did not even need glasses back in 2011 for shooting. A video has gone viral where Dikec did not even wear glasses and was in his usual casual style with no ear protection at the shooting range. Despite that, Dikec managed to win the gold medal in the men’s 10m air pistol event. The ISSF released where Dikec was shooting in an international competition held by the global shooting body.

A decade later, Dikec managed to maintain his uber-cool to win Turkey their second medal and his first-ever Olympic medal at the Paris Games 2024. He bagged a silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. However, Paris is far from Dikec’s first rodeo. The Turkish shooter made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 at the age of 35, and returned four years later at London 2012. It was there where he recorded his previous best result of 13th in the men’s 50m free pistol event. Dikec also competed at Rio Olympics in 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Although always shy of medal content or a top-10 finish.

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Watch the video here-

We found the young Yusuf Dikec archive footage ðŸ‘€

The Turkish shooter didn’t even wear glasses in 2011 ðŸ˜…#ISSF | #ShootingSport | #HitTheMark pic.twitter.com/v5O3VAgkAE — ISSF (@issf_official) August 4, 2024

Why is Yusuf Dikec viral?

Dikec became a global sensation after Tuesday’s event when he appeared at the elite Games dressed casually in a plain T-shirt. Unlike other competitors, he was not wearing any protective gear and special lenses while competing in the mixed team 10-metre air pistol shooting, which captured widespread attention globally.

“This guy just broke down what SWAG really means for us.”
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#TheGOAT #MHA430 #OlympicGamesParis2024 #jjk265 #الضاحية_الجنوبية #MHASpoilers #YusufDikec #Olympics #OlympicGames #Rain Turkey Iran

He and his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal at the event, in which India’s Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh secured bronze. “I hope next in Los Angeles (for) a gold medal,” he said Tuesday, referring to the 2028 Summer Games.

Who was Yusuf Dikec before becoming an Olympian?

Born in 1973, Dikec has been in every Summer Olympics Games since 2008. In the ongoing Paris Games, he also participated in the 10m Air Pistol Men, in which he secured 13 rank, the Paris Olympics website shows.

The website mentions that Dikec’s hobbies include dancing. Dikec took up shooting after he “started working as a non-commissioned officer for the Gendarmerie General Command,” the website reads. He began competing in shooting in 2001.

Gendarmerie General Command, an armed enforcement agency of the Ministry of Interior of Turkey, works to maintain security, safety and public order. According to the Nato Centres of Excellence, a unit of the inter-governmental organisation Nato, the agency’s history dates back to 1839.

Dikec, who was seen aiming for his target on Tuesday with one of the pockets in his hands, ironically believes in the philosophy that “success doesn’t come with your hands in your pockets” – his bio on the official Olympics website states.

The four-time Olympian also holds records for seven-time European champion among other accomplishments.

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