Overnight, Yusuf Dikec became one of the most famous athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
A series of tweets focused on the aura of Korean shooter Kim Ye-Ji soon led to an ISSF Cinematic Universe including the regal rifle outfit of Sheng Lihao from China and the contrasting common man style of Dikec.
The Turkish athlete became a loveable meme, with his nonchalant pistol stance being replicated during sports celebrations for months to come and leading to a following of one million on Instagram. He was now, for lack of a better term, a celebrity.
"The fact that many successful athletes around the world do the same gesture as me makes me very happy as an athlete, but there is also another truth in the world: sport - just like art or music - is something universal," said Dikec in an interview with the German Shooting Federation.
"As athletes, we have also seen here how unifying and peace-building sport can be. Because even people who don't know you accept your gesture and copy it."
What is usually forgotten from that meme is the outcome. Dikec and his teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan made Turkey proud, but would have to settle for silver behind Serbians Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic in the mixed team 10m air pistol event. Even to some athletes this result was forgotten, with one asking for a photograph with the "Olympic champion", but meant the Turk, not the Serbian.
A series of tweets focused on the aura of Korean shooter Kim Ye-Ji soon led to an ISSF Cinematic Universe including the regal rifle outfit of Sheng Lihao from China and the contrasting common man style of Dikec.
The Turkish athlete became a loveable meme, with his nonchalant pistol stance being replicated during sports celebrations for months to come and leading to a following of one million on Instagram. He was now, for lack of a better term, a celebrity.
"The fact that many successful athletes around the world do the same gesture as me makes me very happy as an athlete, but there is also another truth in the world: sport - just like art or music - is something universal," said Dikec in an interview with the German Shooting Federation.
"As athletes, we have also seen here how unifying and peace-building sport can be. Because even people who don't know you accept your gesture and copy it."
What is usually forgotten from that meme is the outcome. Dikec and his teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan made Turkey proud, but would have to settle for silver behind Serbians Damir Mikec and Zorana Arunovic in the mixed team 10m air pistol event. Even to some athletes this result was forgotten, with one asking for a photograph with the "Olympic champion", but meant the Turk, not the Serbian.
Dikec and Tarhan claimed Olympic silver last yearFor Dikec and Tarhan, the Olympics success led to sponsorship contracts and higher profile for themselves and shooting sport - particularly back home. It is nearly a year since this lightning-in-a-bottle moment, while much has changed, he does not believe he has.
"For me personally, not much has actually changed," he said, "But the following happened: my name became better known; Turkey has become better known and the sport I practise became better known both in my country and worldwide.
"Apart from that, not much else has changed in my life. I'm still living my usual life, still doing my training, still living in the same flat, still hanging out with the same friends."
What cannot be avoided is the recognition. He noticed people of all ages in Japan were quick to notice his face. Dikec even admits the level of attention he receives in Turkey can bother him, suggesting that adapting to that level of fame can be difficult.
Dikec added: "When you go somewhere, suddenly everyone's eyes are on you, you can no longer behave freely. You can't just go to a café with friends, have a coffee or eat something without being noticed. But on the other hand - when you see that people, regardless of their opinion, conviction or political affiliation, still accept you, like you, welcome you and take an interest in you - that makes you incredibly happy as a person."
However, focus now moves to the ISSF World Cup in Munich - scheduled to take place from the 10th to the 14th of June - where he has had glory in the past. In fact, Dikec and Tarhan took gold at last year's event, just before their silver at Paris 2024. Further back, the 52-year-old claimed gold in 2011 in the men's 10m air pistol in Germany too.
While he suggests training is more focused on the ISSF World Championships in Cairo in November, he regards the Munich ISSF World Cup as a "very important competition" and one that he wants to win. Having spent years in Germany in the Bundesliga league, he is looking forward to a warm welcome back to his second home.
"As my family lives there, Germany has a special place in my heart. I send my warmest greetings and best wishes from my beautiful country Turkey to my brother and friend Germany. I send my best wishes to my German shooting friends here."
"For me personally, not much has actually changed," he said, "But the following happened: my name became better known; Turkey has become better known and the sport I practise became better known both in my country and worldwide.
"Apart from that, not much else has changed in my life. I'm still living my usual life, still doing my training, still living in the same flat, still hanging out with the same friends."
What cannot be avoided is the recognition. He noticed people of all ages in Japan were quick to notice his face. Dikec even admits the level of attention he receives in Turkey can bother him, suggesting that adapting to that level of fame can be difficult.
Dikec added: "When you go somewhere, suddenly everyone's eyes are on you, you can no longer behave freely. You can't just go to a café with friends, have a coffee or eat something without being noticed. But on the other hand - when you see that people, regardless of their opinion, conviction or political affiliation, still accept you, like you, welcome you and take an interest in you - that makes you incredibly happy as a person."
However, focus now moves to the ISSF World Cup in Munich - scheduled to take place from the 10th to the 14th of June - where he has had glory in the past. In fact, Dikec and Tarhan took gold at last year's event, just before their silver at Paris 2024. Further back, the 52-year-old claimed gold in 2011 in the men's 10m air pistol in Germany too.
While he suggests training is more focused on the ISSF World Championships in Cairo in November, he regards the Munich ISSF World Cup as a "very important competition" and one that he wants to win. Having spent years in Germany in the Bundesliga league, he is looking forward to a warm welcome back to his second home.
"As my family lives there, Germany has a special place in my heart. I send my warmest greetings and best wishes from my beautiful country Turkey to my brother and friend Germany. I send my best wishes to my German shooting friends here."