The laid-back Dikec: Turkey's oldest Olympian shines once again

Legendary Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec has once again captured the attention of fans around the world. In Istanbul, he won the gold medal in the European Air Pistol Championship alongside Mustafa Inan in front of a home crowd, reports the Olympics portal.

The victory over Germany confirmed his exceptional form and the composure for which he is known in shooting competitions. “Winning gold at home is a great honor for me,” Dikec told Türkiye Today.

At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, at the age of 52, he won silver in the mixed 10-meter air pistol competition together with Sevval Ilayda Tarhanovo – the first Turkish medal in the history of this sport. This made him the oldest Turkish medalist and an icon for the younger generation of shooters.

And what made him famous at the Olympic Games? He shot without headphones or special lenses and had one hand casually in his pocket while shooting. With earplugs and a T-shirt, he looked as if he had simply jumped down from the stands for the final.

(mja)