Did Olympic fame Yusuf Dikec pick up shooting as revenge after divorce? Here is the real story

Turkish Olympic shooting silver medallist Yusuf Dikec has become an internet sensation with his relaxed shooting style, characterized by no headwear and a hand in his pocket. Dikec, along with his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, secured the silver medal for Turkey in the mixed team 10m air pistol event on Tuesday, narrowly losing to Serbia in the finals.

Dikec's laid-back posture and minimalist approach stood out in a sport where athletes typically rely on specialized equipment such as headphones, special lenses, or hats. Instead, he wore standard glasses and a team T-shirt, with his left hand casually resting in his pocket.

My shooting style is simple: Yusuf Dikec

"Be cool like Yusuf Dikec. Congratulations on winning the silver medal in such a cool way," read a post from France's embassy to Turkey on X, in Turkish.



In an interview with Turkish channel TGRT Haber, Dikec elaborated on his unique shooting technique. "My shooting technique is one of the rare shooting techniques in the world. I shoot with both eyes open. Even the referees are surprised by this," he said.

Success doesn't come with your hands in your pockets: Yusuf Dikec

He further stated that winning a medal was expected due to their rigorous preparation. "This year we prepared a lot and worked a lot... this success belongs to all of Turkey."


"Success doesn't come with your hands in your pockets," he added.

Did Yusuf Dikec picked up shooting after divorce?

Meanwhile, several debates have arisen about his style and the secrets behind his success. Some social media users even claimed, "Dikec Yusuf was a mechanic and took up shooting after a tumultuous divorce."

Another user said, "After winning a silver medal at the Olympics, Yusuf stood on the podium and delivered a message to his ex-wife, Sharon. If you're watching this, I want my dog back."

However, these claims were debunked by other users who pointed out that Dikec is a retired senior master sergeant of the Turkish Gendarmerie and attended military school. As per the public information, he even visited India to participate in Military World Games in Hyderabad in 2007. He won silver medal in the competition.