- This athlete is no newcomer to the Olympics, but he got netizens’ attention at the 2024 event.
- He explained why he looked different from other Olympic shooters after going viral for unique reasons.
- Another shooter found fame for the same reason as him and even managed to pull a reaction from X’s owner.
The former officer celebrates his silver medal at the end of the 10m Air Pistol Men final during the 51st ISSF World Championship in Las Gabias, near Granada, on September 11, 2014 | Source: Getty Images
2024’s Paris Olympic Games were quite eventful, with one participant, a retired non-commissioned officer of the Turkish Gendarmerie, going social media viral. The athlete had people talking due to his casual attitude during the competition. Let’s get to know him better.
Turkish national shooter training at a shooting range in Mersin, Turkiye, on January 13, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Who Is the Viral Pistol Shooter?
Turkey’s secret weapon at the 2024 Paris Olympics turned out to be a former officer who captured widespread attention for his remarkably calm demeanor during the pistol shooting event. His composed and almost indifferent appearance quickly made him a viral sensation, and he became the subject of numerous social media memes.
Some of these memes humorously contrasted him with Serbia’s shooter, Damir Mikec. The athlete, dressed in a white Olympic T-shirt, black pants, and what appeared to be a simple pair of glasses, sported a look of cold detachment. His expression suggested a quiet confidence, as if he was certain of winning a medal no matter what.
The Turkish Olympic silver medalist shooter who shoots without special equipment, after arriving at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkiye, on August 1, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Unlike the other contestants who wore noise-canceling and buffering headsets, the Turkish man opted for simple earplugs. With one hand casually in his pocket while aiming, he drew comparisons to either a hitman or an everyday person.
In contrast, Mikec was fully equipped, wearing specialized shooter glasses with a lens covering one eye and a blinder over the other, along with a substantial pair of ear protectors.
Though some might assume the Turkish man was a newcomer to both the sport and the Olympics, he’s actually been involved in the field for quite some time.
The European champion won the gold medal in the men’s 25-meter firing pistol category at the Firearms Trap-Skeet European Championships on August 7, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
In fact, the 51-year-old athlete has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 2008. His trademark cool, calm, and composed demeanor earned him an impressive silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Turkey’s former officer lines up his pistol on the 50m shooting range during a practice session ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games on August 1, 2008, in Beijing, China | Source: Getty Images
On July 30, 2024, he and his teammate, Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, secured the silver medal in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting competition.
Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and the former officer compete in the shooting 10m air pistol mixed team match at the Paris Olympic Games on July 30, 2024, in Chateauroux, France | Source: Getty Images
The victory was a landmark achievement for his country, marking its first Olympic shooting medal. Unlike her teammate, Tarhan competed wearing a visor, ear protectors, and what seemed to be the same type of glasses as her partner.
Turkey’s athlete poses for a photo at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey on August 1, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Tarhan also kept one hand in her pocket while shooting her pistol. Her teammate, meanwhile, was participating in his 13th individual event, marking the conclusion of his journey at the Paris Olympic Games. In the following section, we’ll explore the various reactions and comments sparked by the competitor’s distinctive attitude and appearance.
Social Media Reacts to the Former Officer
On July 31, 2024, an X account posted a side-by-side comparison of the Turkish shooter’s stance with that of South Korea’s Kim Yeji. In a short video, Yeji was seen wearing the same type of shooter glasses as Mikec, along with ear protectors, a black backward cap, and an all-black outfit.
Kim Yeji prepares to shoot during the Women’s 10m Air Pistol Final at the Paris Olympic Games on July 28, 2024, in Chateauroux, France | Source: Getty Images
The South Korean athlete displayed the same calm demeanor as her Turkish counterpart, effortlessly making pistol shooting look cool. The clip of her was juxtaposed with a picture of the Turkish shooter, his arm fully extended and poised to shoot.
The X user captioned the post stating, “I think I’m gonna have to take a closer look at the Olympic Pistol competition. First, we got South Korean Kim Yeji, who’s a total badass.”
Kim Yeji reacts during the 10m air pistol women’s qualification at the Paris Olympic Games on July 27, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
The social media user went on to say, “Then comes Turkish competitor [name omitted], who casually goes out and wins the Silver with one hand in his pocket!” Like Turkey’s shooter, Yeji also went viral at the Paris Olympics for her cool and composed demeanor.
On August 1, 2024, the official Olympics account posted images of Yeji and Turkey’s former officer on X, captioning them, “The Olympic #shootingsport stars we didn’t know we needed.” Another X user found the Turkish athlete particularly amusing.
Alongside the viral image, the user commented, “Turkey sent a 51 year old (sic) guy with no specialized lenses, eye cover, or ear protection, and he still won the silver medal.” They then added, “TO CLARIFY THINGS. He won silver in the team competition as part of the Turkish team. Not in the solo competition.”
In another post featuring the athlete’s photo alongside another contestant, the same netizen hailed the Turk as a “legend.” A sports enthusiast also shared the same picture, expressing admiration for his remarkable shooting skills.
The social media user wrote, “Insane aura: 51-year-old [name omitted] of Turkey shows up to the Olympics for shooting without special lenses… without ear protection… hand in his pocket & both eyes open… and casually takes home a silver medal.” The former officer has since responded to his viral fame.
The Reason behind the Shooter’s Viral Olympic Look
After securing their Olympic medal, the former officer, Yusuf Dikeç, and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan were interviewed by a Turkish news station. Dikeç attributed their silver medal to rigorous training and preparation. He mentioned that they had previously claimed first place at the World Cup in Brazil in February 2024, and they also competed at the World Cup in Germany in June.
Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikeç of Team Turkey pose on the podium during the Shooting 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team medal ceremony at the Paris Olympic Games on July 30, 2024, in Chateauroux, France | Source: Getty Images
In 2023, Dikeç and Tarhan also competed at the World Championship. Reflecting on their near miss for the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, the former officer expressed that the victory slipped away in the final moments. He believed that luck simply wasn’t on their side this time.
Yusuf Dikeç and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan talking to a news station in a post uploaded on July 30, 2024 | Source: YouTube/Habertürk TV
Tarhan mentioned that while they were happy with the win, their sights were set on the gold. When Dikeç was asked about his viral photo and his choice not to wear special equipment during the shooting event, he candidly responded, “I swear to God, I never needed that special equipment.”
He further explained, “I am a natural shooter. That’s why I don’t use many accessories.” Looking ahead, he expressed his determination to win the gold medal in the future. Embracing his viral fame, he reposted a video compilation of Turkish-language memes that spoke about him on his Instagram.
Yusuf Dikeç and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan talking to a news station in a post uploaded on July 30, 2024 | Source: YouTube/Habertürk TV
According to reports, Olympic shooters aren’t required to dress in a specific way for their competitions. Many participants at the Châteauroux shooting range in France opted to wear visors to reduce the glare from the lights, and the blinders covering one eye helped them focus better with the uncovered eye.
Dikeç did wear some shooting gear, such as the yellow earplugs he used during the final, but they were less noticeable due to the angle of the viral image. Similarly, Liu Yukun, a Chinese rifle shooter, wore earplugs but chose not to use a visor or blinder when he won gold on August 1, 2024. The Serbian team that competed against the Turkish pair ultimately took home the coveted gold medal.
Who Took the Gold for Shooting at the Olympics?
Speaking to the press on July 30, Dikeç expressed his anticipation for the 2028 Olympic Games, stating, “I hope next in Los Angeles [for] a gold medal.” During a joint interview with Tarhan, he mentioned that he had become friends with the Serbian team that won the gold.
He humorously remarked that he told them he and Tarhan would collect the gold medal when they meet again at the next event in Los Angeles. Dikeç also vowed to continue competing in the sport for as long as his health permits.
Sevval Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikeç, Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec, and Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh pose on the podium during the Shooting 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team medal ceremony at the Paris Olympic Games Paris on July 30, 2024, in Chateauroux, France | Source: Getty Images
Sarabjot Singh and Manu Bhaker won the bronze Olympic medal for India, while Mikec and Zorana Arunovic secured the gold for Serbia. This victory was particularly significant for the Serbians, as they had finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In the final, Mikec and Arunovic were initially trailing 8-2 against Dikeç and his partner but made a remarkable comeback to win 16-14, defeating the Turkish duo. Overjoyed by their victory, Mikec and his partner celebrated by hugging each other while lying on the floor. Now, let’s take a closer look at how Yeji went viral.
The Olympic Shooter Who First Went Viral
During the women’s 10-meter air pistol event on July 28, 2024, Yeji won the silver medal, while her 19-year-old teammate, Oh Ye Jin, claimed the gold. Yeji, who shared a room with Jin in the Olympic Village, expressed that she was “extra happy” for her teammate’s victory, as she views Jin as her “youngest sibling.”
The 31-year-old revealed that she always feels a protective instinct towards Jin and is committed to supporting her. She emphasized that she doesn’t see Jin as a rival and is genuinely pleased that they both secured gold and silver at such a prestigious event as the Olympics.
Kim Yeji and Oh Ye Jin celebrate after the Women’s 10m Air Pistol Final at the Paris Olympic Games on July 28, 2024, in Chateauroux, France | Source: Getty Images
Yeji, who became a viral sensation during the Paris Olympics, concluded, “When we won these medals, we were so proud we are Koreans.” On August 2, 2024, she competed again, this time aiming to qualify for the women’s 25-meter pistol event.
Interestingly, it wasn’t her August appearance that propelled her to viral fame, but rather the clip mentioned earlier, shared in a July 2024 post. That footage is actually from May 2024, when the South Korean competed in Azerbaijan.
At the time, the older video circulated widely on X, garnering millions of views. The shooter glasses she wore were specialist eyewear designed to help athletes focus on their targets. Yeji was dressed in a black Fila jacket with matching pants, and black and white Sauer shooting shoes, and held a stuffed toy elephant affixed to a towel against her hip as she competed.
What captured people’s attention most was her incredibly relaxed demeanor, almost like a villain in a movie, while showing little reaction after firing her pistol. That shot, however, was significant—it helped her set a new world record!
Kim Yeji prepares to shoot during the Women’s 10m Air Pistol Final at the Paris Olympic Games on July 28, 2024, in Chateauroux, France | Source: Getty Images
After making the shot, Yeji dramatically flipped up her glasses’ blinder lens and stared directly into the camera, almost as if she’d planned the moment for maximum impact!
Kim Yeji shoots during the Women’s 10m Air Pistol Final at the Paris Olympic Games on July 28, 2024, in Chateauroux, France | Source: Getty Images
In true cool character fashion, the South Korean athlete casually glanced at the nearby screen. She also appeared in another widely shared photo on X, where she was seen leaning back with one hand lazily resting on her hip while holding her pistol in the other.
Her ponytail peeked out from under the back of her cap, exuding effortless confidence. The post’s caption read, “The most aura I have ever seen in an image.” Responding to the post, someone with insight commented, “The elephant doll is her daughter’s one. She is a true mother.”
Even X’s owner, Elon Musk, joined the conversation, suggesting that the shooter “should be cast in an action movie.” Despite this being her first time competing in the Olympics, Yeji has made history and gained a substantial following of fans.
