Turkish OIympics shooter Yusuf Dikeç made headlines after winning a silver medal in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His casual attire followed by unique style and relaxed demeanor stole the limelight. Partnering with Şevval İlayda Tarhan, Dikeç and his teammate secured Turkey’s first-ever Olympic medal in shooting, making him a standout figure of this year’s Games.
Soon after Yusuf, a picture went viral claiming that another shooter had won a medal in the Olympics by shooting behind using a mirror in a pistol event. However, the reality behind this photo is something else, that picture was a screengrab from a video of the reality show where the user photoshopped the image in an Olympics frame, here is the clip.
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Who is Yusuf Dikeç
Born and raised in Taşoluk village, Göksun district of Kahramanmaraş Province, Yusuf Dikeç completed his secondary education in Göksun. He joined the Military School of Gendarmerie in Ankara in 1994, graduating as a corporal. After serving in Mardin, he returned to the Military School, graduated as a sergeant, and served in Istanbul before joining the Jandarma Gücü Sports Club in Ankara.
Dikeç’s journey into the world of shooting began unexpectedly. Following a contentious disagreement with his ex-wife, he discovered a newfound passion for spending time with his children. Determined to prove his ex-wife wrong, he took up the sport. Remarkably, his casual hobby transformed into extraordinary success. “I never imagined this,” Dikeç admitted with a shrug. “I just wanted to spend some quality time with my kids.”
A 52-year-old mechanic from a small Istanbul garage, Dikeç defies conventional wisdom in the world of shooting. While most competitors rely on specialized gear and rigorous training, he opts for a more laid-back approach, often competing in jeans and a T-shirt. His unorthodox style has left many professional shooters perplexed. “He turns up, shoots lights out, then asks where he can get a cigarette,” one observer remarked.
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