Yusuf Dikec is the definition of aura
Not all heroes wear capes, some wear prescription glasses.
Yusuf Dikec went full ‘first person shooter’ mode when he stepped up to the podium with the most casual approach at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The Turkish shooter, 51, became a viral sensation after his unconventional technique won him a silver medal on Wednesday (31 July).
He took to the stage looking incredibly relaxed with one hand in his pocket and without any shooting gear on.
Most shooters tend to opt for ear protection and specialised glasses, but Dikec wasn’t interested.
The glasses are usually tinted to help with glare and sight is limited to one eye so athletes don’t have to keep the other eye closed to aim.
Meanwhile, the sportsman’s technique was enough to see him and his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan claim the silver medal.
In the process, he has become the internet’s new favourite athlete, as one user wrote on Twitter: “I love how everyone uses specialised lenses for shooting to avoid blur and increase precision. But then Turkey sends out a guy who looks like he just picked up the gun for fun and wins silver.”
“This is what you call aura,” another penned. “Looking like he just came out of the crowd and gave it a go … he just casually took home silver at the Olympics.”
“Dude looks like he just decided to join the Olympics when he woke up this morning,” joked a third.
While a fourth added: “He came in with both eyes open and one of his hand in his pocket. That’s a 51-year-old man who is here to make a statement and sure he left with something… a silver medal.”
“Looking at his pose, you’d know he knows what he’s doing and Turkey too sure knows what they are doing to have sent him all along,” a fifth also pointed out.
“There are no headphones. No special glasses, lenses and equipment,” someone else said.
The games happened to be Dikec’s fifth Olympics as he picked up his first Olympic medal.
He and his partner narrowly missed out on gold with a final score of 16-14.
Serbia’s Zorana Arunović and Damir Mikec recovered from being down 8-2 to secure the win.
