Yusuf Dikec, who won the silver medal for the Olympic pistol shooter event, became a viral sensation overnight.
After his photo went viral on social media for his ‘insane aura’, Olympics spectators couldn’t help but liken the Turkish shooter and silver medalist Yusuf Dikec to their favourite sharpshooting protagonists.
While his other competitors came to the event decked out in all kinds of gear to help them with their precision, Dikec simply came to the event with yellow earplugs, his glasses, comfortable clothing, and his hand in his pocket.
Japanese viewers have started to lovingly call him the ‘Free User Oji-san’, likening him to a lucky uncle who doesn’t need to spend anything on freemium games. While global fans have taken to calling him a ‘hitman’ for his keen precision and impassive look, a phantom thief from Persona 5, or have now associated him with shooting games like Valorant or CS.
Yusuf Dikec has had a long career in shooting competitions. The 51-year old has been participating in various games since 2008, and is known for setting a world record of 579 points in the 25 m center-fire pistol event at the CISM Military World Championships held in Norway.
Dikec gained internet fame right after Korea’s own Olympic shooter, Kim Yeji, went viral for her futuristic and badass getup, a stark opposite to Dikec’s simple, laid back look. Kim, whom fans dubbed the ‘coolest’, won the silver medal for the women’s 10m Air Pistol event.