Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec, who became a viral sensation during Paris 2024 Olympics for his calm and casual shooting style, is back in the spotlight after leading Turkey to a clean sweep of gold medals at the European Champions League of Air Weapons.
Dikec, known for his relaxed approach and lack of protection gear, teamed up with Mustafa Inan to beat Germany’s Christian Reitz and Paul Frohlich 2-0 in the men’s team final in Istanbul.
“Representing my country in front of a home crowd, with the tournament being held in Istanbul for the first time, is a great honour,” Dikec told a foreign media outlet.
“Winning gold here feels amazing, and it’s perfect preparation for the World Championships in Cairo this November,” he said.
Turkey also dominated the women’s events. Damla Kose and Elif Berfin Altun claimed gold in the 10m air rifle team event after beating Norway, while Esra Bozabali and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan triumphed over France in the 10m air pistol team final. With these victories, Turkey captures gold in all three team events.
Dikec first gained global attention at the Paris Olympics where he won silver in the mixed 10m air pistol event. Competing in a loose white T-shirt, track pants and yellow earplugs, he stunned audiences with his effortless precision and unbothered attitude. His minimalist style, with one hand in his pocket and no high-tech equipment, turned him into an online icon and a symbol of confidence under pressure.
The silver medal was Turkey’s first-ever Olympic medal in shooting and made Dikec the oldest Olympic medallist in the country’s history.