Paris 2024: Yusuf Dikec says ‘storms were raging inside’ during viral moment

Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec may have gone viral for his calm and casual demeanour at the Paris Olympics but what he was feeling inside was quite the opposite.

Dikec’s nonchalant pose, with his non-shooting hand casually tucked into his pocket, sparked a flurry of memes on social media as he won silver alongside Sevval Ilayda Tarhan in the mixed team 10-metre air pistol event.

But the 51-year-old said: “At that moment, everyone says I seemed very calm, but actually, storms were raging inside me,” said Dikec.

“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.”

Dikec opted not to wear the high-tech gear of his shooting competitors, donning a simple yellow ear plug and regular glasses instead.

His pose has been emulated by fellow athletes, with Sweden’s pole vault champion Armand Duplantis paying tribute after breaking his own world record at the Games.

Turkey midfielder Irfan Can Kahveci also appeared to copy the celebration during Fenerbahce’s 2-1 Champions League qualifying defeat by Lille on Tuesday.

After securing his first Olympic medal, Dikec is aiming to go one better at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and dethrone Serbian champions Zorana Arunovic and Damir Mikec.

“My partner and I will get the gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Games,” said Dikec.

“I’ve only lent the gold medal until 2028.”