PARIS, France — There’s nothing casual about winning an Olympic Games medal.
But since the beginning of August, the internet has fallen in love with Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec and his unpretentious stance while competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The viral image shows 51-year-old Dikec, aiming at his target with one hand, the other placed nonchalantly in his pocket. Along with his white Team Turkey t-shirt, standard glasses and lack of additional sharpshooting gear, it made him an instant internet hit.
The relaxed stance paid off: Dikec and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan won the silver medal in mixed team 10-meter air pistol shooting, Turkey's first medal in Olympic shooting.
People online say the stance creates an aura of cool, not having to try hard to win big. Some say it's as if a "regular guy" had been tossed into the world's biggest competition.
His viral pose is now being copied by other Olympians at the Paris Games after their best accomplishments.
Armand Duplantis of Sweden broke his own world record in men’s pole vault on Aug. 5. On his first attempt at 6.10 meters (20 feet), he cleared the bar – setting a new Olympic record. He sailed through the air, landed with a bounce, walked to the side of the mat and struck a pose.
The pose he chose? Arm extended, fingers making a pretend gun, with his other hand tucked into his blue shorts. An obvious homage to Dikec.
Duplantis then cleared 6.25 meters (20 feet and 6 inches), securing the gold medal and a new world record.
In a press conference after the event, Duplantis said Australian pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall dared him to do the pose.
"For lack of a better word, I guess he kind of dared me to do it," Duplantis said. "I thought it was a funny meme. [Dikec] seems like a G, so I just kind of did it. I thought it was kind of a funny thing. ... I was just in the moment, just trying to do something silly and cocky."
Two days later, Dikec’s inspiration struck again for two track athletes.
On Aug. 7, Australian pole vaulter Nina Kennedy won gold in the women's pole vault, clearing 4.90 meters (16 feet).
As she wrapped herself in the Australian flag, she stuck her arm out, fingers pointed, hitting the unmistakable "shooter celebration" pose.
Jamaica's Rojé Stona won his first gold medal in men's discus on Thursday, setting a new Olympic record with a 70-meter throw (229.6 feet).
As he went to the large bell at Stade de France, which the track and field gold-medal-winning athletes are permitted to ring, he copied a familiar stance to celebrate.
Sliding his right hand into his pocket, extending his left arm and taking aim at this golden target.
This story include reporting by the Associated Press.
