Turkish sharpshooter Yusuf Dikeç, who captivated audiences with his effortless confidence at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is once again in the limelight; this time after clinching a stunning hat-trick of gold medals at the European Champions League of Air Weapons held in Istanbul.
The 51-year-old sensation has become a national icon, steering the Turkish shooting team to victory and energizing fans as Istanbul hosted the tournament for the first time. Dikeç, sporting his signature white T-shirt and glasses, embodied composure as he calmly hit target after target - a performance that quickly went viral. Partnering with teammate Mustafa İnan, he defeated Germany’s Christian Reitz and Paul Fröhlich 2–0 in the men’s team final, drawing raucous cheers from the home crowd.
“Representing my country in front of a home crowd, with the tournament being held in Istanbul for the first time, is a great honour,” Dikeç told Turkey Today after the competition. He added, “Winning gold here feels amazing, and it’s perfect preparation for the World Championships in Cairo this November,”
From soldier to shooting star
Born in the village of Taşoluk in Turkey’s Kahramanmaraş Province, Dikeç began his shooting career after serving as a non-commissioned officer in the Turkish Gendarmerie . He first gained international fame in 2006, setting a world record in the 25m center-fire pistol event at the CISM Military World Championships with an astonishing 597 points.
Since then, he has become a fixture at the top of international shooting, winning double gold at the 2013 European Championships and later earning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the mixed 10m air pistol event. His minimalist approach, shooting without elaborate gear, relying purely on skill and focus has drawn admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.
The viral “Swag Pose”
Dikeç’s precision isn’t the only thing that’s captured the public imagination. His calm demeanor and signature “swag pose” standing relaxed after a perfect shot have made him a social media phenomenon. In fact, the pose became so popular that others attempted to trademark it without permission. His coach, Erdinc Bilgili, confirmed last month that they officially applied to register Dikeç’s image as a protected trademark.
“After being informed of numerous trademark registration initiatives carried out without Yusuf Dikec ’s knowledge, we submitted an application about a week ago”, Bilgili told AFP.
Now, with three fresh gold medals, a loyal fanbase, and his sights set on Cairo, Yusuf Dikeç continues to prove that greatness doesn’t need flash; just focus, calm, and quiet confidence.
The 51-year-old sensation has become a national icon, steering the Turkish shooting team to victory and energizing fans as Istanbul hosted the tournament for the first time. Dikeç, sporting his signature white T-shirt and glasses, embodied composure as he calmly hit target after target - a performance that quickly went viral. Partnering with teammate Mustafa İnan, he defeated Germany’s Christian Reitz and Paul Fröhlich 2–0 in the men’s team final, drawing raucous cheers from the home crowd.
“Representing my country in front of a home crowd, with the tournament being held in Istanbul for the first time, is a great honour,” Dikeç told Turkey Today after the competition. He added, “Winning gold here feels amazing, and it’s perfect preparation for the World Championships in Cairo this November,”
From soldier to shooting star
Born in the village of Taşoluk in Turkey’s Kahramanmaraş Province, Dikeç began his shooting career after serving as a non-commissioned officer in the Turkish Gendarmerie . He first gained international fame in 2006, setting a world record in the 25m center-fire pistol event at the CISM Military World Championships with an astonishing 597 points.
Since then, he has become a fixture at the top of international shooting, winning double gold at the 2013 European Championships and later earning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the mixed 10m air pistol event. His minimalist approach, shooting without elaborate gear, relying purely on skill and focus has drawn admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.
The viral “Swag Pose”
Dikeç’s precision isn’t the only thing that’s captured the public imagination. His calm demeanor and signature “swag pose” standing relaxed after a perfect shot have made him a social media phenomenon. In fact, the pose became so popular that others attempted to trademark it without permission. His coach, Erdinc Bilgili, confirmed last month that they officially applied to register Dikeç’s image as a protected trademark.
🇹🇷 Yusuf Dikec from Turkey winning gold medal at European Championships 2025, he does it again very casually
— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) October 5, 2025
pic.twitter.com/GplhORFv6S
“After being informed of numerous trademark registration initiatives carried out without Yusuf Dikec ’s knowledge, we submitted an application about a week ago”, Bilgili told AFP.
Now, with three fresh gold medals, a loyal fanbase, and his sights set on Cairo, Yusuf Dikeç continues to prove that greatness doesn’t need flash; just focus, calm, and quiet confidence.
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