PARIS: A Turkish Olympic shooting silver medallist became an instant internet sensation with his laid-back, hatless, one-hand-in-pocket style, but he said on Thursday he was unfazed by his newfound fame.
Yusuf Dikec and his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won silver for Turkey in the mixed 10m air pistol team event on Tuesday, losing to Serbia in the gold medal match.
But what was striking was both Dikec's stance and the result: the shooter was wearing sunglasses, a team T-shirt and his left hand casually stuffed into his pocket.
Other than his gun, he had none of the specialized equipment that athletes use in this hyper-precision test, such as headphones, special glasses or a hat.
“Be cool like Yusuf Dikec. Congratulations on winning the silver medal in such a cool way,” the French embassy in Turkey wrote in a post on X in Turkish.
“My name is Dikec. Yusuf Dikec,” other users wrote in their posts, referring to the film icon James Bond. Some memes added a cigarette in his mouth to emphasise his relaxed posture.
Talking to the Turkish channel TGRT Having, Dikec acknowledged that he had adopted the rare technique of shooting with both eyes open, while most athletes keep one closed or hidden.
“My shooting technique is one of the few in the world. I shoot with both eyes open. Even the referees are surprised by it,” he said.
He said winning a medal was not a surprise as “this year we prepared a lot and worked hard… this success belongs to all of Turkey.”
“Success doesn't come from keeping your hands in your pockets.”
Some social media users suggested the same attention should also be paid to his shooting partner in the mixed event, Tarhan, whose footage showed him adopting a similarly casual stance with his hand in his pocket, although he was wearing headphones and a visor.
Turkish Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak congratulated Dikec on social media, posting a photo of him recreating his now “legendary pose.”
Clutching a Turkish flag and their medals, Dikec and Tarhan celebrated their victory on Wednesday at Champions Park in the Trocadero complex in Paris.
