Yusuf Dikeç made Olympic excellence look so chill
The athletes at the Olympics are impressive, like Greek gods on top of a mountain. They are focused and dedicated in a way that most of us can't understand. Fortunately, there is Yusuf Dikeç, a 51-year-old Turkish man who won a silver medal in the 10-meter team air pistol event. The shooting competitions at the Olympics have gained attention for their unique outfits and equipment, such as the cyborg-like jackets worn by air rifle competitors and South Korean pistol-shooter Kim Yeji's futuristic Fila outfit with a cyberpunk rig for aiming.
Dikeç was not interested in all the fuss. A screenshot of him on TV showed him with a relaxed attitude: wearing only a simple Turkey-branded t-shirt, no ear protection, just a pair of practical black-framed glasses on his eyes, and his left hand casually tucked into his pocket, as if he were playing darts at a bar in Istanbul instead of competing in the largest sports event in the world. It's no surprise that this image of effortless cool has spread across the globe, with Dikeç being compared to a professional killer and a new character in Red Dead Redemption.
This is not to doubt his commitment to the sport of air pistol shooting. This was Dikeç’s fifth time competing in the Olympics, starting back in Beijing 2008. This was not only his first medal, but also Turkey’s first medal in shooting. It is said that he began practicing the sport while serving as a non-commissioned officer in Turkey’s gendarmerie police force. Despite his victory, he remained modest, telling Turkish media that he did not require any special equipment and that he was a natural shooter. This does not diminish the impressive high-tech gear used by Yeji and others. It simply shows how there is a diversity of athletes at the Olympics, from those with top-of-the-line equipment to those who stick to the basics.
The internet's admiration for Dikeç – and for Stephen Nedoroscik, the American pommel horse expert caught napping during the competition – also reflects the complex connection we share with our Olympians. They dedicate themselves to training, sacrificing potential career opportunities, all in pursuit of success in a field where the stakes are higher compared to mainstream sports. A Premier League soccer player has many opportunities to score each season, with numerous leagues and tournaments available for them to compete in annually.
However, for an Olympic athlete, especially one participating in a lesser-known sport that doesn't receive much attention outside of the Games, they only have one chance every four years. A disappointing performance or a bad day could mean going back to training for another four years. If they do manage to win a medal, it can have a lasting impact on their life. Embracing the Olympic challenge and coming out victorious can elevate you to a hero status, like athletes such as Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and Jessica Ennis.
It also puts you in that remote Greek mountain top away from everyone else. But showing up to your event like it's just another evening at the shooting club, and then winning silver, brings the image of an Olympian down from the sky and back to reality. It may not be completely accurate – who would dare to compete with Dikeç? – but it makes those dreams of athletic achievement a bit more realistic. According to the "philosophy" section of Dikeç's official Olympic profile, his motto is: "Success doesn't come with your hands in your pockets." This time, it did.
