Turkish Shooter Yusuf Dikec Becomes Internet Sensation at Paris Olympics – Hollywood Life

The cool, calm, and collected Turkish pistol shooter has found himself in the grips of online fandom while securing a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

Yusuf Dikec, alongside his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, took second place in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol event. But what noticeably stood out was Dikec’s lack of gear— special lenses or big ear protectors—for the competition.

The most-shared images show Dikec shooting in a T-shirt with one hand in his pocket, a seemingly standard pair of glasses, and an unfazed look on his face. He’s been likened to a regular guy off the street competing at the Olympics, or even an unsuspecting hitman.

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The 51-year-old is no newcomer, though. He’s competed at every Summer Olympics since 2008.

“I did not need special equipment. I’m a natural, a natural shooter,” Dikec was quoted as telling Turkish media, according to EuroNews.

Teammate Tarhan, who spoke with Reuters, expressed that the overnight celebrity status is well-earned.

“I’m proud of him, but it’s not that he does not have equipment,” the 24-year-old said. “He’s used to shooting with regular glasses and does not need extra gear. It’s a personal thing and he’s comfortable that way.”

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Dikec himself seems surprised, if a bit baffled, by the internet’s interest in something that comes so easily to him.

“I didn’t anticipate such a level of recognition,” he told Turkish media on his arrival back to his home country. “Since I shoot with my both eyes open, I don’t find the equipment very comfortable.”

“No lens, no headphones, just vibes,” Eurosport wrote on X. “Turkey’s Yusuf Dikec wins silver and fans’ hearts.”

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The viral photo came after South Korean air pistol competitor Kim Yeji also went viral for looking like a movie star during her turn at the Olympics. Her confident demeanor and dramatic stance have brought praise on social media for her “main character energy”.

“The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed,” the official Olympics account on X posted Thursday with pictures of Kim and Dikec.

Kim won silver in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event Sunday behind her South Korean teammate Oh Ye Jin.