Yusuf Dikeç, the viral Olympic shooter who won silver, explains why he competed without equipment in his first interview at Paris Olympics.
Yusuf Dikeç won silver medal for his performance at Paris Olympics
At the recent Olympics, Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç captured attention worldwide by clinching a silver medal without traditional shooting gear.
Dikeç, a 51-year-old pistol shooter, surprised spectators and competitors by showing up to the event in casual attire.
Remarkably, he even didn’t use the usual shooting equipment that others typically use.
The internet was full of memes and comments about Dike’s unusual way of competing.
Many people praised him for being so cool and showing his skill effortlessly.
Some even joked that he might be a secret hitman because of how calm he looked and how accurate his shooting was.
Viral Olympic shooter explains why he competed without any equipment
In a recent interview, Dikeç revealed his decision to compete without the standard shooting gear that other competitors relied on.
He explained that despite his outward appearance of ease and nonchalance, inside, he battled a storm of emotions, with his heart feeling like it might burst.
This led him to prioritize comfort and familiarity in his shooting style rather than forcing himself to be in the traditional one.
“We might appear at ease, but inside we are battling a storm, and it feels like our hearts might burst.
We strive to keep this from showing,” he said in an interview.
Dike also explained his special shooting method, saying that he shoots with both eyes open.
He believes this way does not work well with regular shooting equipment.
Going without this equipment, he believed he could better showcase his raw talent and skill.
“Since I shoot with my both eyes open, I don’t find the equipment very comfortable.
“I believe that highlighting one’s talent is essential,” he emphasized.
Olympic shooter Dikeç surprised with global recognition of his performance
Returning to Turkey after his Olympic success, Dikeç expressed gratitude for the global recognition he received.
The unexpected attention and support from the media and fans alike caught him off guard, but he found it both uplifting and motivating every athlete’s talents.
“The attention from the global media has been both uplifting and motivating for us.
I didn’t anticipate such a level of recognition; it caught me by surprise,” he emotionally expressed.
The iconic Olympic shooter’s plan for his career future
The 51-year-old believes that his country’s first shooting medal could lead to a gold medal at the 2028 Olympics, aiming to secure another historic achievement for his nation.
Despite narrowly missing out on the gold medal in this competition, Dikeç’s track record speaks out about his shooting prowess.
Dike has achieved previous victories at major events such as the ISSF World Championships, the ISSF World Cup, and several European Shooting Championships.
These successes have made him a strong competitor in the shooting world.
Social media reaction
On social media, many people have shared memes of Dike’s choice to keep one hand in his pocket.
Imagine Getting the gold medal in the Olympics but All eyes are on this man who won the silver medal, one user said.
Such is his attitude and style, that nobody even knows or cares about the person who won the gold! The second user commented.
I feel like he could of won gold but held back, the third user said.
Plot twist: he’s the man who trained John Wick and Agent 47, another joked.
I would totally watch a movie about a hitman who ends up in the Olympics, someone wrote.