Viral shooter Yusuf Dikec from Turkey officially became a social media sensation after his victory at the Paris Olympics last month. His iconic performance in the 10 metre air pistol event alongside teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan secured him a silver medal, the second Olympic medal his country has ever seen, and the first in a shooting event.
However, the 51-year-old's rapid internet popularity cannot be attributed entirely to his Olympic victory. Dikec's demeanour and shooting style is perhaps what made him the 'internet's uncle'. During the final, he shot a near-perfect round with one hand in his pocket and with no gear except his glasses, in contrast to the conventional protective earplugs and special lenses. Then, he comes in second. His cool, composed, and nonchalant vibe is what garnered a lot of attention on social media.
Dikec and his daughter
Much of the reason behind his success seems to be his daughter, who revealed the tips she gave her father before the event. A few days after the victory, a video from an interview went viral, where Dikec's 9-year-old daughter said that she gives her father motivation and tactics in case he feels lost or upset during the match.
She told him to take a breath and release it, and in the process of releasing his breath, he should pull the trigger. ''That way his hands don't shake,'' she said.
The wholesome dad and daughter moment has been shared widely.
Divorce??
With Yusuf's overnight popularity, many theories and stories about his life have popped up on social media. One in particular claimed that he took up shooting after an argument with his ex-wife, and is driven by an incessant need to prove his ex wrong.
''I was just aiming for a weekend with the kids.''
However, the page ('The Sports Memery' on X) later labelled the post as satire. In truth, he took up the sport after he started working as a non-commissioned officer for the Gendarmerie General Command.
Though this is the first time he has won a medal, Yusuf has been participating in every Olympics since 2008.
He told the media that if he had won a gold medal in this Olympics then he was considering quitting. ''But now we will get the gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028 and then I will quit. Because we are very good,'' Times of India reported.
Many are even calling him 'the Turkish John Wick'.
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