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Who is Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish shooter who went viral at the 2024 Olympics?

Who is Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish shooter who went viral at the 2024 Olympics?
Thanks to the popularity of French superstar, Victor Wemba Yama coupled with the fact that four French players were selected in the first round of the most recent NBA draft. Five on five. Traditional basketball is shining bright in the city of light basketball has become so big here in France, we even found areas in Paris that were once parking lots that have now been turned into basketball courts. But do any people here know what, what three X three basketball is and that it's even in the Olympics, I didn't know it was on the program. Even the three X three players like college star and influencer Haley Van Lith are new to the game. This has been kind of something that has just came out of nowhere. Three X three debuted at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 was created to be fast and fun. It's the first team, the 21 or whoever is in the league at the end of 10 minutes. Also, there's no coach on the court. I think it's *** great, it's *** great opportunity for us to, to learn to think the game and this game provides hoop dreams to countries around the world who find it difficult to compete in traditional basketball. Our national team, uh, three Dutch guys are, uh, also doing it. Uh, but our national team in basketball. Yeah, it's had no chance against, uh, the big stars in America, of course. Uh.
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Who is Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish shooter who went viral at the 2024 Olympics?
Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec has gone viral on social media for his seemingly casual attitude while shooting his way to a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.Related video above: Team USA competes in diverse sports at Paris OlympicsThe most-shared images show Dikec shooting in a T-shirt with one hand in his pocket, a seemingly standard pair of glasses and an impassive look on his face. He's been likened to a regular guy competing at the Olympics, or even a hitman.The 51-year-old is no newcomer, though. He's competed at every Summer Olympics since 2008.Some memes contrast Dikec with his Serbian opponent Damir Mikec, who was wearing a blinder over one eye, a lens over the other and a large pair of ear defenders.Did Dikec win a medal?He did, and it made history.Dikec and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal in mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting Tuesday. It was Turkey's first-ever medal in Olympic shooting.Mikec and Zorana Arunovic won gold for Serbia. The bronze went to India's Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh.Unlike Dikec, his teammate Tarhan was competing with large ear defenders and a visor, as well as braids in the red and white colors of the Turkish flag. She was shooting with one hand in her pocket, too.Dikec was 13th in his individual event and is now done at the Paris Olympics. He's looking ahead to the next Games in 2028, though. “I hope next in Los Angeles (for) a gold medal,” he said Tuesday. What does he think about going viral?Dikec seems to be embracing the trend, reposting a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him to his Instagram page.The shooting events were held around three hours' drive south of Paris. Dikec and Tarhan made the journey to the French capital Wednesday, where they were greeted with cheers at the Champions Park, an open-air venue where medalists celebrate with fans.Why didn't Dikec wear more gear?Shooters have some freedom about how they dress for competition.Many shooters at the Olympic range in Chateauroux, central France, choose to wear visors to reduce the glare of the lights or so-called blinders over one eye to get a better focus for the eye which is looking down the sights.It's not quite true that Dikec wasn't wearing any shooting gear. He had yellow earplugs to block out distractions while he shot in the final. They just weren't visible from the angle of the image which went viral.Just like Dikec, Chinese rifle shooter Liu Yukun won a gold medal Thursday wearing earplugs but no blinder or visor. Have other shooters gone viral at the 2024 Olympics?Yes, South Korean pistol shooter Kim Yeji's confident demeanor and dramatic stance have brought praise on social media for her “main character energy”.“The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed,” the official Olympics account on X posted Thursday with pictures of Kim and Dikec.Kim won silver in the women's 10-meter air pistol event Sunday behind her South Korean teammate Oh Ye Jin. Kim and Oh are roommates and Kim said she was pleased Oh got the gold because she sees her like a “youngest sibling.”Kim is set to compete again Friday in qualification for the women's 25-meter pistol event.

Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec has gone viral on social media for his seemingly casual attitude while shooting his way to a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.

Related video above: Team USA competes in diverse sports at Paris Olympics

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The most-shared images show Dikec shooting in a T-shirt with one hand in his pocket, a seemingly standard pair of glasses and an impassive look on his face. He's been likened to a regular guy competing at the Olympics, or even a hitman.

The 51-year-old is no newcomer, though. He's competed at every Summer Olympics since 2008.

Some memes contrast Dikec with his Serbian opponent Damir Mikec, who was wearing a blinder over one eye, a lens over the other and a large pair of ear defenders.

Did Dikec win a medal?

He did, and it made history.

Dikec and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal in mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting Tuesday. It was Turkey's first-ever medal in Olympic shooting.

Mikec and Zorana Arunovic won gold for Serbia. The bronze went to India's Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh.

Unlike Dikec, his teammate Tarhan was competing with large ear defenders and a visor, as well as braids in the red and white colors of the Turkish flag. She was shooting with one hand in her pocket, too.

Dikec was 13th in his individual event and is now done at the Paris Olympics. He's looking ahead to the next Games in 2028, though. “I hope next in Los Angeles (for) a gold medal,” he said Tuesday.

Turkey&apos&#x3B;s Savval Ilayda Tarhan, left, and Yususf Dikec compete in the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Manish Swarup
Turkey’s Savval Ilayda Tarhan, left, and Yususf Dikec compete in the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Chateauroux, France.

What does he think about going viral?

Dikec seems to be embracing the trend, reposting a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him to his Instagram page.

The shooting events were held around three hours' drive south of Paris. Dikec and Tarhan made the journey to the French capital Wednesday, where they were greeted with cheers at the Champions Park, an open-air venue where medalists celebrate with fans.

Turkey&apos&#x3B;s Yusuf Dikec competes in the shooting 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP) (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images)
ALAIN JOCARD
Turkey’s Yusuf Dikec competes in the shooting 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 30, 2024.

Why didn't Dikec wear more gear?

Shooters have some freedom about how they dress for competition.

Many shooters at the Olympic range in Chateauroux, central France, choose to wear visors to reduce the glare of the lights or so-called blinders over one eye to get a better focus for the eye which is looking down the sights.

It's not quite true that Dikec wasn't wearing any shooting gear. He had yellow earplugs to block out distractions while he shot in the final. They just weren't visible from the angle of the image which went viral.

Just like Dikec, Chinese rifle shooter Liu Yukun won a gold medal Thursday wearing earplugs but no blinder or visor.

CHATEAUROUX, FRANCE - JULY 30: Silver medalists Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec of Team Turkiye pose on the podium during the Shooting 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team medal ceremony on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 30, 2024 in Chateauroux, France. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Charles McQuillan
Silver medalists Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec of Team Turkiye pose on the podium during the Shooting 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team medal ceremony on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 30, 2024 in Chateauroux, France.

Have other shooters gone viral at the 2024 Olympics?

Yes, South Korean pistol shooter Kim Yeji's confident demeanor and dramatic stance have brought praise on social media for her “main character energy”.

“The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed,” the official Olympics account on X posted Thursday with pictures of Kim and Dikec.

Kim won silver in the women's 10-meter air pistol event Sunday behind her South Korean teammate Oh Ye Jin. Kim and Oh are roommates and Kim said she was pleased Oh got the gold because she sees her like a “youngest sibling.”

Kim is set to compete again Friday in qualification for the women's 25-meter pistol event.