Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec may have gained viral fame for his relaxed demeanor at the Paris Olympics, but internally, he felt quite differently.
Dikec’s laid-back stance, with his non-shooting hand casually tucked into his pocket, ignited a wave of memes online as he secured a silver medal alongside Sevval Ilayda Tarhan in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol event.
The 51-year-old remarked, “People said I looked very calm, but inside, storms were raging.”
He believes his shooting posture beautifully embodied the Olympic spirit, showcasing fairness, simplicity, clarity, and authenticity, which contributed to its widespread attention.
Unlike his competitors, Dikec chose to forgo the high-tech shooting gear, opting instead for a simple yellow earplug and regular glasses.
His pose has inspired other athletes, including Sweden’s pole vault champion Armand Duplantis, who paid homage to Dikec after breaking his own world record at the Games.
Additionally, Turkey midfielder Irfan Can Kahveci appeared to mimic the pose during Fenerbahce’s 2-1 Champions League qualifying loss to Lille on Tuesday.
Having secured his first Olympic medal, Dikec is now focused on achieving gold at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, aiming to surpass Serbian champions Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec.
“My partner and I will claim the gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Games,” Dikec stated. “I’ve only lent this gold medal until 2028.”
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