- Photo of Olympic shooter gains immense popularity following competition
- Yusuf Dikec, 51, represented Turkey in the 10-metre air pistol event
Fans of the Olympic Games are reacting strongly on social media to a photo of Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec as he participated in the 10-metre air pistol mixed team event in Paris.
At 51 years old, Dikec, alongside partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, earned the silver medal, but it was Dikec’s unique shooting style that propelled his image into the spotlight.
The Turkish shooter became an internet sensation after a photo surfaced showing him competing in an unusually nonchalant manner, notably without standard shooting gear and with one hand casually tucked into his pocket.
Typically, Olympic shooters wear ear protection and specialized glasses designed to cover one eye and reduce glare, but Dikec chose a different path.
‘Turkey sent a 51-year-old guy without any specialized gear, yet he secured the silver medal,’ one user posted on X, to which billionaire Elon Musk responded, ‘Nice.’
‘I can identify a trained assassin when I spot one,’ another user quipped.
‘Did Turkey dispatch a hitman to the Olympics?’ asked another commentator.
A fourth user wrote: ‘Turkey Government: We’ve got a different assignment for you this week.’
Turkish silver medalist Yusuf Dikec (51) has gone viral for his remarkably relaxed demeanor during the Paris Games
Dikec and his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan earned the silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event
Some commentators humorously suggested Dikec resembled an assassin based on his composed demeanor
Social media was flooded with comments similar to the one displayed above
Spectators thought Dikec seemed like he’d just arrived at the event with no prior experience after winning silver
Dikec is participating in his fifth Olympic Games, and he and his partner narrowly missed out on the gold medal with a final score of 16-14.
This viral image follows South Korean shooter Kim Ye-ji earning the title of ‘the coolest person ever’ during her shooting event.
The 31-year-old pistol shooter won a silver medal on Sunday in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event, finishing behind her compatriot Oh Ye-jin.
However, it was Kim’s appearance as much as her precision that captivated the audience.
Kim was frequently described as ‘badass’, sporting custom shooting glasses and a white baseball cap, while holding onto her daughter’s stuffed toy elephant in her other hand.
South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji is seen competing at the Olympics on Sunday. She went viral for her cool demeanor after winning gold and breaking a world record in May
Since Kim secured her first Olympic medal, footage of her performance during May’s shooting World Cup in Baku has also gained significant traction on social media.
The specific video showed Kim achieving gold in the 25m pistol competition while setting a new world record.
One viewer commented on the viral clip, saying: ‘This is the coolest anyone has ever looked while breaking a world record.’
Another remarked, ‘This is the coldest moment. I’m obsessed.’
A third user added, ‘And she’s so relaxed about it, she’s the coolest main character out there.’
