Who is Yusuf Dikec? No eye gear and hand in pocket, this 51-year-old shooter wins silver at Paris Olympics

Social media exploded over a photograph of Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec in the course of the 10-meter air pistol combined workforce occasion on the Paris Olympics. At 51 years previous, Dikec and his associate, Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, secured the silver medal, nevertheless it was Dikec’s distinctive strategy that captured widespread consideration.

The picture displaying Dikec competing in an unusually relaxed method, with one hand in his pocket and missing customary taking pictures gear, went viral. In contrast to most Olympic shooters, who use ear safety and specialised glasses to dam imaginative and prescient in a single eye and scale back glare, Dikec’s informal fashion stood out. A fan tweeted, “Turkey despatched a 51-year-old dude with no specialised lenses, eye cowl, or ear safety, and secured the silver medal.” Billionaire Elon Musk responded with a easy, “Good.”

Within the ultimate match, Serbia’s Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec clinched the gold medal, defeating the Turkish duo 16-14 on the Chateauroux Capturing Centre. Regardless of a gradual begin, Tarhan and Dikec managed to construct an 8-4 lead and have been near victory at 14-12. Nonetheless, Arunovic and Mikec made a outstanding comeback to win the gold.

Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh made historical past by successful the bronze medal within the 10m air pistol combined workforce occasion. This achievement marked India’s sixth Olympic medal in taking pictures and its first-ever in a workforce occasion. Manu Bhaker additionally turned the primary athlete from unbiased India to win two medals in a single Olympic Video games. Earlier within the week, Bhaker had made historical past as the primary Indian girl to win an Olympic taking pictures medal. Competing on the Nationwide Capturing Middle in Chateauroux, Bhaker and Singh triumphed over South Korea’s Oh Ye Jin and Wonho Lee with a rating of 16-10 within the bronze medal match.

Who’s Yusuf Dikec?

He studied at Gazi College College of Bodily Coaching and Schooling in Ankara and later earned a Grasp’s in Teaching from Selcuk College in Konya. Dikec is fluent in each English and Turkish. He has competed within the Olympics 5 instances, representing Turkey in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024.

On the World Championships, he turned a double world champion in 2014, successful in each the 25m customary pistol and the 25m heart hearth pistol occasions. Moreover, Dikec earned a silver medal within the 10m air pistol. Within the European Championships, he has claimed seven titles, together with a win within the air pistol trio occasion in 2024 in Gyor. Yusuf Dikec enjoys dancing in his free time.