PARIS 2024: Facts About Turkey's Viral Olympic Shooter Yusuf Dikec
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2 August 2024 11:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Turkish Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikec has become a newfound Internet sensation for his cool and casual style. The marksman wore standard glasses, a team T-shirt and had his hand casually in his pocket, his face rather expressionless, as photos circulating on social media suggested.
Netizens called him an ordinary man who just happened to be competing in the Olympics, and some even compared his style to that of a killer. Meanwhile, Indonesian netizens described him as a "housing complex dad."
Memes were quickly generated, some contrasting him with his Serbian opponent, Damir Mikec, who wore the official blinders over one eye, a lens over the other, and large ear protectors. Mikec and his partner Zorana Arunovi and Damir Mikec went on to win gold for the Serbian team.
Here are some known facts about Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish Olympian who is -- at the moment -- an Internet sensation.
- An Olympic veteran.
The 51-year-old Yusuf Dikec is no newcomer in the Olympics shooting range. He's competed in every Summer Olympics since 2008.
- Silver Medalist in Paris
In Paris 2024, Dikec and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event last Tuesday. This is Turkey's first medal in Olympic shooting.
- Forgoing the Official Visor
Many shooters at the Olympic shooting range in Chateauroux, central France, choose to wear regulation visors, also called blinders, over one eye to reduce glare and get better focus. He chose not to and shot with both eyes open.
- He actually wore hearing protection
While photos made it look like he wasn't protecting his ears during the competition, Dikec was actually wearing yellow earplugs during the finals. However, the earplugs were not visible in the image that went viral.
- Hopeful for Los Angeles
Dikec finished 13th in the singles and has now completed his run at the Paris Olympics. He's looking ahead to the next games in 2028. "I hope to win a gold medal next time in Los Angeles," he said.
Bonus Trivia
Like Dikec, his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan also adopted a "casual" style of shooting with her hands in her pockets. However, she did so with large ear protectors and a regulation visor.
REUTERS | OLYMPICS
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