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Yusuf Dikec may boast an Olympic medal and a large online following, but the Turkish pistol sharpshooter remains focused on staying grounded.
Images of Dikec casually handling his pistol, with his silver medal from Paris and his off-hand in his pocket – sans protective glasses or headphones – went viral globally. Despite the online buzz, Dikec emphasized he is "the same man."
"The day after winning the silver medal, everyone talked about how my photos were shared on social networks," Dikec shared. "But it doesn't affect me. I'll continue living my life as before," he said at his training facility in Ankara.
Dikec’s relaxed stance has been widely copied by fellow athletes and even caught the attention of Elon Musk, who shared a video of himself mimicking the pose, which garnered 170 million views. This self-assurance and composure have led to numerous online memes.
Online, Dikec has been humorously compared to James Bond and depicted in "The Matrix" with added props like a cigarette, highlighting his laid-back demeanor.
For Dikec, the real achievement was winning Türkiye's first medal in the mixed-team 10m air pistol alongside teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan. He explained that his hand-in-pocket stance helps with stability and balance, not arrogance.
A former security forces member who retired a year ago, Dikec prefers shooting without protective gear. "I shoot with my eyes open and find glasses or headphones uncomfortable," he said, noting that most pistol shooters close one eye, making his approach quite unique.
Teammate Tarhan, who also shoots with her hand in her pocket and minimal gear, has been suggested to receive equal recognition. She began shooting at 15 with aspirations of becoming a policewoman or soldier. "We've proven you can succeed without heavy equipment," she said.
For Dikec, his relaxed stance embodies the Olympic spirit of fair play, rejecting doping, and testing talent and the human body in its natural state. "People appreciate it, which makes me happy," he said.
His effortless technique results from 24 years of rigorous training, including numerous world and European championships. Leading up to Paris, he trained four hours a day, six days a week for a year. Despite narrowly missing gold, Dikec remains optimistic about the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Dikec values hard work and passion over technology and money. "I even asked Elon Musk if robots could win with their hand in their pocket," he said. "I don't think so, because some things require heart that neither technology nor money can achieve."
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