Iconic Olympic shooter who won silver medal with ‘no equipment’ explains why he didn’t use any in first interview
Olympic fans have gone crazy for Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç
You can never predict who will become an unexpected star at the Olympic Games until the events unfold, and this time, a Turkish shooter showed up with minimal gear and ended up winning a silver medal, much to everyone’s delight.
Yusuf Dikeç, a 51-year-old pistol shooter, has taken the internet by storm with memes and theories suggesting he might be a secret hitman or something similar.
He earned the title ‘the definition of aura’ by arriving at his Olympic event in a t-shirt and glasses, while many competitors donned impressive gear.
We inquired with an expert about his absence of equipment, and it turns out that he is a ‘great guy’ and a ‘truly remarkable’ shooter, able to take aim without any gear and fire with both eyes open.
A great way to define coolness is by making tough tasks look easy, and in this sense, Dikeç truly embodies that coolness.
“I got one hand in my pocket, the other is winning silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics.” (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
The man has now addressed his remarkable shooting abilities, with the 51-year-old clarifying why he chose not to wear some of the equipment that many of his rivals were using.
Turkish media reports that Dikeç has returned to Turkey after winning an Olympic silver medal and shared details about his shooting style upon arriving at Istanbul airport.
“We may look calm on the outside, but inside we’re fighting a fierce storm, and it feels like our hearts could explode. We work hard to hide this,” he explained about his shooting style.
I shoot with both eyes open, so I don’t find the equipment very comfortable. I think it’s important to showcase one’s talent.
The global media’s attention has been incredibly encouraging and inspiring for us. I never expected to receive this much recognition; it truly took me by surprise.
Yusuf Dikeç explained why he went without equipment after heading home from the Olympics. (Adem Kutucu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The 51-year-old is confident that his country’s first-ever shooting medal could be succeeded by a gold medal at the 2028 Olympics.
Many observers noticed Yusuf with his hand in his pocket, a common stance among Olympic pistol shooters, as it is believed to promote relaxation.
Given that the 51-year-old described ‘fighting a storm’ within and feeling as if his heart could explode, it’s understandable that he would choose to wear what he felt most at ease in and take any steps necessary to stay as relaxed as he could.
Although Yusuf Dikeç did not secure an Olympic gold this time, he has previously achieved gold medals at the ISSF World Championships, the ISSF World Cup, and multiple European Shooting Championships.
The most bizarre, discontinued Olympic sports
Painting
In the past, the Olympics awarded medals for artistic achievements as well, featuring competitions in painting, sculpture, music, architecture, and literature.
The 1912 Olympics in Stockholm marked the introduction of artistic competitions, which continued through the 1948 London games, during which juries presented a total of 151 medals for artistic works inspired by sports.
Tug of War
You probably didn’t realize that this playground classic used to be an Olympic event, did you?
It turns out that the sport was not only popular but also sparked significant drama. During the 1908 Olympics in London, Team USA accused Team GB of cheating, claiming their heavy footwear was ‘illegal.’
Tug of War was a staple in five Olympic Games between 1900 and 1920, and its fans have actively sought to have the sport reinstated in future events.
Hot Air Balloon Racing
At the 1900 Olympics, hot air balloon pilots competed in races based on distance traveled, altitude achieved, precision in landing at designated coordinates, and even the quality of the best photograph taken from the balloon.
The sport was ultimately discontinued following the implementation of a ban on motorized sports.
Live Pigeon Shooting
The event, which made its first appearance at the 1900 Olympics, was quite straightforward: competitors aimed to shoot as many released pigeons as they could. Quite grim.
The event was featured only once in the Games, and it is estimated that Olympic hopefuls killed approximately 300 pigeons.
Pistol Duelling
It’s obvious why this event was canceled, but in 1906, people seemed unfazed by competitors brandishing pistols and firing at one another.
It started with competitors firing at dummies, but two years later, the organizers opted for a change and had them shoot at one another using wax bullets. Ouch!
The sport was last featured in the Olympics in 1908, suggesting they soon recognized it was a poor choice, regardless of the use of wax bullets.
