Footage of Yusuf Dikeç doing the EXACT same pose in 2011 when he won the World Cup Series resurfaces after viral pic of Turkish shooter takes Olympics by storm
- Silver medallist went big on social media with seemingly casual attitude
- The 51-year-old does not wear blinders or visors like most other shooters
- Photo has emerged of him 13 years ago looking different but with same style
Footage of Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikeç doing the exact same pose in 2011 has resurfaced after the Turk's unusual technique went viral this week.
Dikeç has taken the Paris Games by storm thanks to his seemingly casual attitude while shooting his way to a silver medal.
He's been likened to a regular guy competing at the Olympics, or even a hitman.
The 51-year-old - a former officer of the Turkish Gendarmerie - is no newcomer, though. He's competed at every Summer Olympics since 2008.
And he's kept the same laid-back technique throughout a successful career, with a clip of a fresher-faced Dikeç emerging on social media.
Yusuf Dikeç has taken the Paris Games by storm thanks to his seemingly casual attitude while shooting his way to a silver medal
Footage of the Olympic shooter doing the exact same pose in 2011 has resurfaced
The 52-year-old participated in his fifth Olympics with his shooting partner Sevval Ilayd Tarhan
The Turk may have no grey hairs and smoother skin and may be lacking his now-iconic black-rimmed spectacles but he is sporting the same remarkable shooting style some 13 years ago.
Social media users have reacted in disbelief at the continuity of Dikeç's technique and how the shooter had slipped through the net of internet fame until now.
One X user posted, '13 years later and he still got it, along with two pictures of the Turk in 2011 and now side-by-side.'
In response, another user said: 'Came outta retirement for one more.'
Another suggested that Dikeç had not aged at all and replied: 'He looks the same man.'
While one went a step further and argued that time had been kind on the looks of the shooter, saying: 'Why does he look much better with white hairs its like bro got a glowup after 13 years.'
And another user remarked: 'There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in a storm, a night with no moon, and a guy who is so locked in.'
Some memes in the aftermath of the shooter's charismatic pergormance have contrasted Dikec with his Serbian opponent Damir Mikec, who was wearing a blinder over one eye, a lens over the other and a large pair of ear defenders.
Dikec (seen in 2017) doesn't like to wear anything else but yellow earplugs while shooting
Dikec and Tarhan won Turkey's first-ever Olympic medal in the 10-meter air pistol shooting
Dikec's cool demeanor in Paris saw him return to Turkey with a hero's welcome (seen on Thurs)
Dikec and Sevval Illayd Tarhan won the silver medal in mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting Tuesday. It was Turkey's first-ever medal in Olympic shooting.
Mikec and Zorana Arunovic won gold for Serbia. The bronze went to India's Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh.
Unlike Dikec, his teammate Tahran was competing with large ear defenders and a visor, as well as braids in the red and white colors of the Turkish flag. She was shooting with one hand in her pocket, too.
Dikec was 13th in his individual event and is now done at the Paris Olympics. He's looking ahead to the next Games in 2028, though.
'I hope next in Los Angeles (for) a gold medal),' he said on Tuesday. 'We are among the best pistol teams.'
Dikec seems to be embracing the trend, reposting a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him to his Instagram page.
The shooting events were held around three hours' drive south of Paris. Dikec and Tarhan made the journey to the French capital Wednesday, where they were greeted with cheers at the Champions Park, an open-air venue where medalists celebrate with fans.
'I didn't anticipate such a level of recognition,' he told Turkish media on his arrival in the country on Thursday.
'Since I shoot with my both eyes open, I don't find the equipment very comfortable.'
Shooters have some freedom about how they dress for competition.
Social media users have reacted in disbelief at the continuity of Dikeç's technique
Many shooters at the Olympics rang in Chateauroux, central France, choose to wear visors to reduce the glare of the lights or so-called blinders over one eye to get a better focus for the eye which is looking down the sights.
It's not quite true that Dikec wasn't wearing any shooting gear. He had yellow earplugs to block out distractions while he shot in the final. They just weren't visible from the angle of the image which they went viral.
Just like Dikec, Chinese rifle shooter Liu Yukun won a gold medal Thursday wearing earplugs but no blinder or visor.
