In one of many extra entertaining twists of the 2024 Paris Olympic video games, a dressed-down 51-year-old shooter from Turkey has turn out to be an web sensation virtually in a single day. After taking silver within the 10m combined air pistol occasion on Tuesday, Yusuf Dikeç and his teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan joined a choose rank of Olympians (and have become the primary Turkish shooters within the nation’s historical past) who’ve introduced medals again to their dwelling nation.
Nevertheless it’s Dikeç’s informal fashion and nonchalant angle that has made him an web legend. A single screenshot of him taking intention with one hand stuffed in his pocket (which is a standard posture on this occasion because it enhances stability) will seemingly go down as essentially the most memorable photograph taken throughout this 12 months’s Olympic taking pictures occasions.
Within the {photograph}, which has generated extra memes than a grumpy home cat, Dikeç places off what can solely be described as an aura — one that’s equal elements “informal hitman” and “common Joe.” Numerous social media commenters have speculated that he’s virtually definitely a educated authorities murderer. The truth that he’s retired from the Turkish army has solely fueled these suspicions.
“As a result of profitable gold is just too apparent,” one Instagram consumer wrote.
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Probably the greatest elements about Dikeç’s medal-winning efficiency — and a big a part of his web fame, because it have been — is the stark distinction between him and the remainder of the sphere. He didn’t depend on the specialised glasses, newfangled earmuffs, and different taking pictures equipment that almost each different modern-day Olympic pistol shooter makes use of. (On the reverse finish of this scale was South Korean pistol shooter Kim Yeji, who seemed decidedly like a futuristic Bond villain as she took silver at a separate air pistol occasion on Sunday.)
Competing towards a crowded subject of largely youthful shooters, Dikeç wore denims, a t-shirt, a traditional pair of eyeglasses, and fundamental foam earplugs — and he shot with the perfect of them.
Picture by way of Fb
“I didn’t want particular gear,” he reportedly instructed a member of the Turkish media. “I’m a pure, a pure shooter.”
Going right into a bit extra element with Turkish information outlet Radyo Gol, the veteran shooter defined a part of his strategy to the game. Whatever the “simply got here out of the gang” feedback the well-known photograph has generated, Dikeç has competed at each summer time Olympics since 2008, and he’s received seven European Championships.
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“I shoot with two eyes, most shooters do it with one,” Dikeç mentioned within the translated interview. “Taking pictures with two eyes — I consider that it’s higher. I’ve accomplished a variety of analysis on it, so I didn’t want the gear.”
Dikeç additionally mentioned that taking pictures with one hand in his pocket wasn’t a press release however moderately a part of his method.
“Taking pictures with my hand in my pocket has nothing to do with artistry,” he mentioned, including that his stance “is definitely about bringing the physique to equilibrium and focusing and concentrating.”