Turkish sharpshooter Yusuf Dikeç clinched the silver medal in the air pistol team event at the 2024 Paris Olympics without the aid of special lenses or large ear protectors.
At 51-years-old, Dikeç, with one hand casually in his pants pocket, secured second place, marking a historic achievement for Turkey and gaining widespread online popularity.
Serbia’s Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunović clinched the gold, while the bronze went to India’s Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh.
Dikeç, competing in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event at the Olympics in Chateauroux, France, defied convention by opting for small yellow earplugs and regular glasses instead of high-tech gear. His partner, Şevval İlayda Tarhan, similarly forwent blinders and kept one hand in her pocket. Their victory brought Turkey its first medal in an Olympic shooting event.
During the medal ceremony, silver medalists Şevval İlayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikeç stood proudly on the podium.
“I did not need special equipment. I’m a natural, a natural shooter,” Dikeç told Turkish media, as reported by EuroNews.
Fans were quick to celebrate Dikeç for his relaxed and casual approach.
“No lens, no headphones, just vibes,” Eurosport wrote on X. “Turkey’s Yusuf Dikeç wins silver and fans’ hearts.”
“Turkey sent a 51-yr-old guy with no specialized lenses, eye cover, or ear protection and got the silver medal,” another user noted.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji also gained attention when she was seen with futuristic lenses and a “Paris 2024” blinder during the 10-meter air pistol women’s event, leading fans to dub her the “James Bond of the Olympics.”