Exclusive: I am happy to be spreading the sport of shooting in a unique way, says Yusuf Dikec

Suave Turkish shooter, who became an overnight social media sensation during Paris Olympics, enjoying time in capital
TUGHLAKABAD: Your mobile phone needs to have two features when Yusuf Dikec is around - a selfie camera and a translator. "I am more comfortable speaking in Turkish than English," he said at the shooting ranges here on Monday. He is effortlessly casual but you cannot ignore his presence. Dikec may himself still not know why he became an overnight Internet sensation at the Paris Olympics, but the shooter knows he is popular.
He has embraced this newfound fame and is even enjoying it 'casually'.
The Turkish shooter has been hogging the limelight at the ISSF World Cup Finals here, obliging hundreds of requests for selfies not just by volunteers, budding shooters but also officials from across the world.
Dikec's posture, shooting with a hand in his pocket, wearing a normal pair of spectacles, minus any shooting gear, went viral during the Olympics. He won the silver in 10m air pistol mixed event, but he is remembered more for his iconic style at the shooting lane.
"Since my medal match at the Paris Games, the memes started circulating. Now, everybody wants a picture with me. I am surrounded by people asking for selfies, not just here, but even in other countries. It feels good that people want to celebrate my success," Dikec told TOI in an exclusive chat.

He knows his medal win in Paris contributed to his popularity, but more than that, it was his nonchalant manner while shooting that made him a meme celebrity.
At 51, he says he is not too old not to know what it feels like to be a meme.
"I am glad that people noticed me and they share my photos to express their emotions. I am happy to be spreading the sport of shooting in a unique way," he said.
Dikec got his first Olympics medal 24 years after he started shooting. He has been taking part in the Olympic Games since 2008, but has achieved success only now. "That is the best aspect of the sport. You can participate without worrying about your age and continue till you want to. I see myself as a normal healthy person and would like to continue for many more years," the retired armyman said.
On not using any shooting gear, Dikec said: "I like to keep things as simple as they can be. I find these specs better than the complicated gear. When I was younger, I shot without wearing any specs. I got used to putting my hand in my pocket ever since I fired my first shot. I never realised that people will notice this and find this amusing."
How would his life be if he suddenly found there were no pockets in his pants? "I guess, I will start hitting bad shots, more than ever," he said in jest. "But on a serious note, pocket or no pocket, I am looking to make it bigger at the 2028 Los Angeles Games," he said.
Dikec's popularity has made his nine-year-old daughter the 'happiest person' in the world. "She enjoys the memes a lot. She is very happy as her friends at school now call her a champion's daughter. She loves to flaunt it," he laughed.