Yusuf Dikec, a Turkish air pistol shooter, has gone viral on social media after winning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 51-year-old athlete’s photo—showing him taking aim with one hand in his pocket and minimal gear—has captured the internet’s attention.
The picture, posted on X, has received an incredible 62 million views. The caption humorously notes, “Turkey sent a 51-year-old guy with no specialized lenses, eye cover, or ear protection and got the silver medal.”
In contrast to other athletes in the air pistol mixed team event who wore specialized gear like goggles and ear protectors, Dikec appeared in prescription glasses and regular earplugs. His relaxed and confident style, including having one hand in his pocket, set him apart.
The image of Yusuf Dikec has inspired countless memes on X and other social media platforms since it went viral on Wednesday. Some joked that Turkey had sent a secret agent to the Olympics, who intentionally lost the gold to avoid drawing attention.
At the Paris Olympics, the gold medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event went to Serbia’s Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec. They defeated Turkey’s Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec 16-14 at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre. India’s Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh won bronze, beating South Korea’s Oh Ye-jin and Lee Won-ho 16-10.
Although Yusuf Dikec didn’t win gold, his effortless style and charisma have made him a star on social media. This was his fifth Olympics, and he earned his first-ever medal in this competition.
