Yusuf Dikec, the Turkish shooter who went viral at the Paris Olympics for his relaxed style, has won gold at the ESC European Champions League in Istanbul. Competing alongside teammate Mustafa Inan, Dikec defeated Germany in the final, striking the same pose he used in Paris with his non-shooting hand in his pocket.
The 52-year-old shot to fame last summer when he won a silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sevval Llayda Tarhan, Turkey's first-ever Olympic shooting medal. His casual attire—a white T-shirt and glasses—and lack of professional equipment captured global attention.
“Representing my country in front of a home crowd, with the tournament held in Istanbul for the first time, is a great honour. Winning gold here makes me very happy,” Dikec told Turkiye Today after his victory.
Dikec made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 at age 35 and has competed in every Games since, including London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. In London he finished 13th in the men's 50m free pistol, but his Paris silver made him Turkey's oldest Olympic medallist at 51 years and 212 days.
A multiple national champion, Dikec is now an eight-time European champion. He also won two World Championship titles in 2014, in the men's 25m centre-fire pistol and standard pistol events.
