In a surprising turn of events, Turkish Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikec has become a viral sensation after his remarkable performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite his casual demeanor and ordinary prescription glasses, Dikec secured a silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol mixed team event, captivating social media users worldwide.

Unlike his competitors who donned specialized gear, Dikec stood out by opting for a relaxed style, with his hand casually in his pocket and no optical accessories. This unconventional approach has sparked comparisons to a regular guy competing at the Olympics, or even, lightheartedly, to a hitman.

Dikec's success alongside his partner Şevval İlayda Tarhan in securing second place has earned him overnight fame on the internet. A viral post with almost 90 million views praised Turkey for sending a 51-year-old contestant without specialized lenses, eye cover, or ear protection, yet winning the silver medal.

While most Olympic shooters rely on specialized equipment for vision and hearing protection, Dikec seemed unaffected and narrowly missed out on the gold medal, which was claimed by Serbian duo Zorana Arunović and Damir Mikec.

This is not Dikec's first appearance on the Olympic stage. Having represented Turkey in the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympics, the retired non-commissioned officer of the Turkish Gendarmerie is no stranger to shooting. Additionally, he holds multiple titles from the World and European Championships in various pistol events.

Speaking to domestic Turkish media, Dikec expressed his belief that he did not require any special equipment, attributing his success to being a "natural shooter." His relaxed style has even garnered praise from official Olympic social media accounts, referring to Dikec and South Korea's Kim Yeji as the "shootingsport stars we didn't know we needed."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Kim Yeji, who participated in the women's 10-meter air pistol event, gained attention for her futuristic shooting sports gadgetry and composed demeanor. A viral video from the 2024 ISSF World Cup, where she broke a world record and made direct eye contact with the camera, further propelled her into internet stardom.

Social media users have eagerly joined in the celebration of these two Olympic stars. Memes referencing Dikec and Kim Yeji have flooded platforms, generating playful content and drawing comparisons between their contrasting styles. From spoofing popular films to creating collages of Dikec with his cat, the internet has embraced their unique narratives.

As the Paris 2024 Olympics continue to captivate audiences worldwide, it is clear that Dikec's relaxed style and Kim Yeji's composed composure have left an indelible mark on the games, reminding us that extraordinary athletes come in all forms.