Turkish shooter reveals real reason behind pose which went viral at Olympics
Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec has spoken out about the pose that caused him to go viral at the 2024 Olympics.
The 51-year-old former military officer competed in the 10m air pistol mixed team event in Paris, winning the silver medal alongside Sevval Ilayda Tarhan.
For safety reasons, shooters in the event usually wear ear defenders and goggles to protect their eyes and ears.
But Dikec opted for neither of those, instead donning a pair of normal glasses and yellow earplugs, as well as a white T-shirt.
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But while that look itself went viral, Dikec's stance - which saw him place one hand in his pocket and use the other for aiming - caught the eye of everyone watching.
The stance was even replicated by Swedish pole vault star Armand Duplantis after he once again broke the event's world record at the Stade de France on Monday.
Explaining the reasoning behind his stance, Dikec explained to reporters: "At that moment, everyone says I seemed very calm.
"But actually, storms were raging inside me.
"I think my shooting pose represented the Olympic spirit very well: the fair play, simplicity, clarity and naturalness. That's why it got so much attention.
From one Olympic legend, to another š
ā Eurosport (@eurosport) August 6, 2024
Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis emulates Yusuf Dikec's iconic shooting style š« #Olympics #PARIS2024 pic.twitter.com/jfZvNCxFJ3
"My partner and I will get the gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. [I told the gold medal winners] 'I've only lent you the gold medal until 2028'."
Dikec has even poked fun at his own approach with a quote on the Philosophy' section of his profile on the official Olympics website, which reads: "Success doesn't come with your hands in your pockets."
Dikec and Tarhan have won one of six medals for Turkey at the 2024 Olympics, although the country are yet to pick up a gold.
They secured a bronze in wrestling and two silvers and a bronze medal in boxing, as well as another bronze in archery.
Ryan Smart