Who is Yusuf Dikec? Here's what to know about the viral Turkish Olympics shooter
Yusuf Dikec, a Turkish Olympic silver medalist who shoots without special equipment, poses for a photo at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkiye on Augut 01, 2024. Dikec's cool demeanor at the event gained global attention. (Photo by Adem Kutucu/Anadol
A Turkish shooter competing in the Olympics is gaining a following on social media for his performance at the Paris games.
Who is Yusuf Dikec?
Yusuf Dikec began competing in shooting in 2001 and is a four-time Olympian and has competed at every Summer Olympics since 2008.
The 51-year-old is also a seven-time European champion and 2014 double world champion in the 25m standard pistol and 25m centerfire pistol, according to his Olympics biography.
RELATED: Simone Biles wins gold medal, Suni Lee earns bronze in Olympics gymnastics all-around final
Dikec studied at the Gazi University School of Physical Training and Education (Ankara, Turkey) and received a Master's in Coaching from the Selcuk University (Konya, Turkey). His hobbies are dancing and he lives by the philosophy "Success doesn't come with your hands in your pockets," per his bio.
Why did Dikec go viral?
Dikec has made the rounds on social media for an image that shows the Olympic competitor shooting in a T-shirt with one hand in his pocket, and wearing a pair of glasses with a stoic expression on his face. Some online have compared Dikec to a regular guy competing at the Olympics, or even a hitman.
Did Dikec win an Olympic medal?
Dikec won a medal at the Olympics making history when he and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal in mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting Tuesday. It was Turkey's first-ever medal in Olympic shooting, per the Associated Press.
RELATED: Paris Olympics: Katie Ledecky wins gold during 1,500-meter freestyle event
Dikec was 13th in his individual event and has completed his time at the Olympics but tells the AP he wants to compete in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
What does Dikec say about going viral?
Dikec seems to enjoy the response he’s received from the photo reposting a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him to his Instagram page.
When Dikec and Tarhan traveled oustide of Paris on Wednesday, they were greeted with cheers at the Champions Park, a site where Olympic medalists celebrate with fans.
Have other shooters gone viral at the 2024 Olympics?
Although Dikec is becoming a fan-favorite for his now popular Olympic photo, he’s not the only shooter trending at the Paris games.
South Korean pistol shooter Kim Yeji's confident and dramatic behavior was celebrated on social media for her "main character energy."
"The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed," the official Olympics account on X posted Thursday with pictures of Kim and Dikec.
Kim won a silver medal in the women's 10-meter air pistol event Sunday and will compete again Friday in qualification for the women's 25-meter pistol event, the AP noted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.