Yusuf Dikeç born 1 January 1973 is a Turkish sport shooter competing in pistol events. This Turkish Shooter won a silver medal in the mixed team 10-m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics 2024, alongside teammate Şevval İlayda Tarhan in the same event where India’s Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh finished third to bag the bronze. He is a retired non-commissioned Turkish Gendarmerie officer and a Jandarma Gücü Sports Club member.
Read more to know Yusuf Dikec’s Biography, Career, and Achievements more in detail.
Personal Information
| Nationality | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Born | Military and sports trainer |
| Education | Military and sport trainer |
| Alma mater | Gazi University |
| Occupation | Gendarmerie NCO |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 80 kg (176 lb) |
| Country | Turkey |
| Sport | Air pistol |
| Event(s) | 10 m air pistol, 50 m pistol |
Yusuf Dikeç Education
Yusuf Dikeç was born in Taşoluk village of Göksun district in Kahramanmaraş Province on 1 January 1973. He did his primary schooling in his village and then completed his secondary education in Göksun.
In 1994, he enrolled in the Military School of Gendarmerie in Ankara.
After graduation, he became a corporal and entered duty in Mardin.
In 1999, Dikeç entered the Military School of Gendarmerie. After one year, he graduated with the rank of sergeant. He served one year in Istanbul, and then was appointed to Jandarma Gücü in Ankara, the sports club of the Turkish Gendarmerie.
In 2001, he began with sport shooting. Since then, Dikeç competes in the military national team as well as in the national team. He was educated in physical education and sports at Gazi University in Ankara.
Why he went viral at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Dikeç has competed in four consecutive Olympic Games starting from Beijing 2008 to Tokyo 2020. Paris Olympics is his 5th appearance in the Olympic games.
Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec has gone viral on social media for his seemingly casual attitude while shooting his way to a silver medal at Paris 2024. Dikec is making headlines at the Paris Olympics 2024 for his swag. During shooting events, shooters usually wear a lot of gear, which includes specialized glasses for better precision and avoiding any kind of blurring and ear protectors for noise cancellation. But Dikec only wore regular prescription glasses and earplugs, and he was still able to defeat most of the competition. The picture of Dikec with limited gear and his hand in his pocket while shooting went viral on the internet after the competition.
Dikec and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal in mixed team 10m air pistol shooting which is Turkey’s first-ever medal in Olympic shooting. After winning the medal he said, “I did not need special equipment. I’m a natural, a natural shooter”.He further stated that winning a medal was expected due to their rigorous preparation. “This year we prepared a lot and worked a lot… this success belongs to all of Turkey.”
Yusuf Dikec Sports Career
He has represented his country in multiple international competitions, including the Olympics. Dikeç has competed in five consecutive Olympic Games starting from Beijing 2008 to Paris 2024.
Dikec has won multiple gold medals in the ISSF World Championships, ISSF World Cup, European Championships, and European Games.
Career Highlights
Dikeç won the bronze medal in the 10-metre air pistol event at the 2012 ISSF World Cup Final held in Bangkok, Thailand.
At the 2013 European Shooting Championships held in Osijek, Croatia, he became the double gold medalist in the 25 m standard pistol and 25 m center-fire pistol.
At the 2021 European Shooting Championships in Osijek, Croatia, he won the bronze medal, in the 10 m Air Pistol Team event.
Medal record
| Olympic Games | ||
|---|---|---|
 | 2024 Paris | 10 m air pistol Mixed team |
| ISSF World Championships | ||
 | 2014 Granada | 25 m c-f pistol |
| 2014 Granada | 25 m std pistol |
| 2014 Granada | 10 m air pistol |
| 2023 Baku | 10 m air pistol Mixed team |
 | 2014 Granada | 25 m std pistol team |
| European Games | ||
| 2023 Kraków-Małopolska | 10 m air pistol team |
| European Championships | ||
| 2013 Osijek | 25 m c-f pistol |
| 2013 Osijek | 25 m std pistol |
| 2013 Osijek | 25 m c-f pistol team |
| 2016 Győr | pistol |
| 2018 Győr | pistol |
| 2012 Vierumäki | pistol |
| 2012 Vierumäki | pistol team |
| 2013 Osijek | 25 m std pistol team |
| 2013 Osijek | 50 m pistol team |
| 2021 Osijek | 10 m air pistol team |
| ISSF World Cup | ||
| 2011 Munich | 10 m air pistol |
| 2011 Wroclaw | 10 m air pistol |
| 2012 Munich | 10 m air pistol |
| 2012 Bangkok | 10 m air pistol |
| CISM World Championships | ||
| 2006 Rena | 25 m c-f pistol |
| 2010 Zagreb | 25 m c-f pistol |
| Mediterranean Games | ||
| 2013 Mersin | 50 m pistol |
| 2005 Almeria | 10 m air pistol |
| 2013 Mersin | 10 m air pistol |
| Military World Games | ||
| 2007 Hyderabad | Military rapid fire pistol |
