CHATEAUROUX, France. Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec has captured social media’s attention with his laid-back approach to shooting, earning him viral fame during the 2024 Olympics. Dikec, 51, was seen shooting to a silver medal while displaying a notably casual demeanor—often pictured in a T-shirt with one hand in his pocket, standard glasses, and an impassive expression.
Dikec’s unconventional style has led to comparisons to a “regular guy” at the Olympics or even a hitman in memes that have spread widely online. Despite this relaxed appearance, Dikec is a seasoned athlete, having competed in every Summer Olympics since 2008.
In the mixed team 10-meter air pistol event on Tuesday, Dikec and teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan secured Turkey’s first-ever Olympic medal in shooting by winning silver. Serbia’s Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic took gold, while India’s Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh earned bronze. Notably, Dikec’s teammate Tarhan also shot with one hand in her pocket, but she wore large ear defenders and a visor adorned with the red and white colors of the Turkish flag.
Dikec’s individual performance saw him finish 13th, and he is now looking forward to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. “I hope next in Los Angeles (for) a gold medal,” he said.
Embracing his newfound viral status, Dikec has shared a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him on his Instagram page. The shooting events were held about three hours south of Paris, and both Dikec and Tarhan received a warm welcome from fans at Champions Park in Paris on Wednesday.
Despite his casual appearance, Dikec did use some shooting gear during the final. He wore yellow earplugs to block out distractions, though they were not visible in the viral images. Shooters have some discretion in their attire; many choose to wear visors or blinders to enhance focus, but Dikec’s choice of minimal gear was part of his distinctive style.
Dikec isn’t the only shooter to gain attention at the 2024 Olympics. South Korean pistol shooter Kim Yeji has also been celebrated for her confident demeanor and dramatic stance, earning praise for her “main character energy.” Kim, who won silver in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event, is set to compete in the women’s 25-meter pistol event on Friday.
“The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed,” the official Olympics account on X posted, featuring images of both Kim and Dikec.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
