Winter storm warnings continue in northern Minnesota 

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Olympic shooters have been getting lots of attention for their 

. But one is standing out for his decidedly lower-tech look — and the fact that he got to the podium nonetheless.

On Tuesday, Turkey’s Yusuf Dikec shot his way to a silver medal in the air pistol mixed team competition, and to instant online fame. His winning quality, the internet decided, was his seeming nonchalance.

While many of Dikec’s competitors were decked out in large ear protectors, visors and sci fi-esque shooting glasses, he played it a different kind of cool with regular eyeglasses and barely visible ear plugs.

Wearing a jersey that looked like an ordinary T-shirt, and shooting with his free hand tucked in his pants pocket, the 51-year-old gave off a noticeably casual vibe.

So casual, in fact, that scores of social media users 

 to the Olympics. Some praised his aura as “

And many drew a contrast between Dikec and South Korean shooter Kim Yeji, whose futuristic aesthetic and unflappable demeanor made her an 

Memes joked that the two embodied the contrast between Google Sheets 

“South Korea sent a fully-kitted out player for the Olympic shooting,” read 

. “Turkey sent [a] guy with no specialized lenses, eye cover or ear protection and got the silver medal.”

Dikec and his teammate, Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, won silver in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol event, bringing home Turkey’s first-ever medal in Olympic shooting.

He placed 13th in his individual event, and is already looking ahead to his next Olympics.

“I hope next in Los Angeles (for) a gold medal,” he said afterward, according to the 

The former officer loves dancing and cats

 — he has competed in shooting events in every Summer Games since 2008.

He’s also a seven-time European champion and 2014 double world champion in the 25m standard pistol and 25m centerfire pistol, according to his 

Dikec’s bio says he took up shooting in 2001 after he started working as a non-commissioned officer for the Gendarmerie General Command (an armed law enforcement organization in Turkey).

His current occupation is listed as “athlete,” and 

Dikec lists exactly one hobby on his bio page: dancing. He’s also 

, as social media sleuths quickly discovered.

His philosophy, ironically, is, “Success doesn't come with your hands in your pockets."

His unique style comes down to personal preference

 of a lens, mechanical iris and blinders that together can help athletes better line up their mark — have become pretty standard in recent years, though clearly not all athletes are required to use them.

Dikec told Turkish radio station Radyo Gol that while most shooters use one eye, he prefers to use both.

“Shooting with two eyes — I believe that it’s better,” he said, according to a 

. “I’ve done a lot of research on it, so I didn’t need the equipment.”

Chinese rifle shooter Liu Yukun won a gold medal Thursday with a similarly sparse set of gear, the AP notes — just earplugs, with no blinder or visor.

 who shoots with his other hand in his pocket. He told the radio station that it’s a matter of feeling more motivated and comfortable.

The stance “is actually about bringing the body to equilibrium and focusing and concentrating,” he added.

Dikec seems to be taking his social media stardom in stride, reposting several memes to 

). He has also continued to defend his style.

EuroNews reports that he told the Turkish press: "I did not need special equipment. I'm a natural, a natural shooter."

Sports

Olympics and Paralympics

Homepage

Rachel Treisman

Author

Five-time Olympian Yusuf Dikec shot his way to silver with regular eyeglasses and a hand in his pocket. His casual style impressed viewers and had many jokingly wondering whether he might be a hitman.

A conspicuously dressed-down shooter won Olympic silver. Then he went viral

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox