Retired Turkish police officer Yusuf Dikec took the Paris Olympics by storm in 2024, winning silver in the mixed 10m air pistol event. Even more striking was his unconventional approach: competing with no gear and one hand casually in his pocket, proving that sometimes less is more.
DeCake, 51, challenges the norms of competitive shooting, where athletes typically wear a range of specialized gear, including goggles, ear protection and high-tech glasses. Instead, he wears a simple pair of regular glasses and earplugs to protect his hearing.
“I don’t need special equipment,” according to Euronews. “I’m a natural shooter.”
“You’re not going to get ahead with your hands in your pockets,” he told other news outlets.
According to the New York Post, Dikek’s silver medal marked a historic moment for Turkey, as it was the country’s first-ever Olympic shooting medal.
The medals won by Dikek and teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan were Turkey’s first in Olympic shooting.
The 51-year-old finished 13th in the individual event, ending his Paris Olympic journey.
Dikec is already looking forward to the 2028 Olympics.
“I hope to win a gold medal next in Los Angeles,” he said.
He was delighted with his newfound fame, reposting a video compilation of his Turkish memes to his Instagram page.
DeKaike also won a gold medal in the 2011 World Cup series.
Yusuf Dikec actually took gold in the 2011 World Cup series
His aura is different pic.twitter.com/gEUPW3EyhM
– Pubity Sport (@pubitysport) August 3, 2024
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Another athlete getting a lot of attention at the Olympics is South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji, whose fierce attitude and undeniable talent have earned her the nickname “Protagonist Energy” among fans. Kim’s performance earned her admiration not only for her skill but also for her unapologetic confidence.
watch:
The most “protagonist energy” person I have ever seen in my life.pic.twitter.com/ExuXVxB3VB
— Del Walker (@TheCartelDel) July 30, 2024
