Look around at the air pistol competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and you'll find plenty of athletes decked out in trinkets and accessories—special eye wear with science fiction-looking lenses, protection for the ears and more.
But not 51-year-old Dikec Yusuf of Turkiye.
Yusuf, who competed in the 10-meter mixed team competition at Chateauroux Shooting Centre, showed up to the event wearing no accessories besides his regular glasses and competed in the event with one hand in his pocket at times.
It clearly worked, as Yusuf helped Turkiye advance to the final and claim a silver medal, falling just short in the finale to Serbia. But Yusuf's casual approach easily won over fans tuning in to the event.
insane aura
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 31, 2024
51-yr old Yusuf Dikec of Turkey shows up to the Olympics for shooting without special lenses…
without ear protection…
hand in his pocket & both eyes open…
and casually takes home a silver medal pic.twitter.com/qRB3kwRZmz
Bro showed up in his most casual everyday fit and scored a Medal lmao pic.twitter.com/OLhPN7bg5L
— rodlo 🪬 (@roddystr) July 31, 2024
I love how everyone uses specialized lenses for shooting to avoid blur and increase precision...
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) July 31, 2024
But then Turkey sends out a guy who looks like he just picked up the gun for fun and wins silver.
(h/t @paposfut) pic.twitter.com/KXHCHDccpp
On the left Kim Yeji, she is the anime protagonist.
— ultrapurwater (@ultrapurwater) July 31, 2024
On the right is Yusuf Dikec. He would that one character in the anime everyone even the Demon Lord would stay clear of for reasons long lost in time. Just leave him alone.https://t.co/ctaKq5B9IE pic.twitter.com/CXfGgJBZYz
Most competitors wear one lens to avoid blurring and another lens for better precision when aiming at the target. Yusuf didn't need any of that, and he'll proudly return home to Turkiye with a silver medal.
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Turkiye Olympic Shooting Silver Medalist Becomes Viral Sensation With Casual Approach.
