Hands-in-pocket, casual stance, a poker face to boot with no headwear and all the while shooting? Such an unbelievable sight for the initiated as well as the uninitiated! Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec, 51, became the talk of America with his unconventional approach. Decked out in standard glasses and a team T-shirt, with his left hand casually slung in his pocket, Dikec truly went against the grain. He eschewed the usual bells and whistles of specialized equipment – no headphones, no special lenses, no hat, no ear protection – proving that sometimes, less really is more.

And then the bang and ‘boom’ of a ‘boss move’ ensued. Yusuf Dikec’s laid-back style didn’t hold him back; in fact, it catapulted him to a silver medal in the mixed 10m Air Pistol shooting at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His swagger, elan and drip showed that sometimes breaking with tradition can really make you stand out from the crowd. And then his performance went viral in America, and he quickly became an overnight sensation. Meanwhile, his effortless swag has made him the hottest meme on X, but this time not in America but in Japan!

Before him, it was South Korean sharpshooter Kim Ye-ji, who won silver in the women’s 10-metre air pistol, went viral this week for her strikingly calm demeanor and stylish look. Clad in her black South Korea uniform with a baseball hat and wire-rimmed glasses, Kim’s 27-second clip of her focused shooting at the Baku World Cup mistakenly circulated as Paris footage but still captured widespread attention.

Despite the mix-up, her poised presence and “sci-fi assassin” vibe earned her acclaim from style magazine GQ and made her a sensation on social media, with over 28 million views on one video alone. But now it’s Dikec’s turn to steal the show; in a world where memes rule the roost, his viral moments have catapulted him into the MEME- but the famous, quintessential one!

Meme-makers have gotten creative, photoshopping Dikec into iconic scenes from Pulp Fiction as a hitman and staging an epic anime showdown between him and Kim. In Japan, he is trending on X under the playful moniker “Free to Play Uncle,” a nod to free-to-play video games that often push micro-transactions. Meme-makers have depicted Dikec as a player who shuns flashy add-ons but still emerges victorious. This playful twist recently made the rounds on Reddit, sending fans into a frenzy and adding to Dikec’s viral fame.

Fans go gaga over the Turkish shooter- Yusuf Dikec’s viral success galore

Among the many fans, a few comments had us in stitches. One fan hilariously remarked, “I mean, we all seem to be rabidly memeing on Turkish shooter uncle, Korean shooter girl, and USA’s vault pommel horse dude… which just tells me the global population has suddenly discovered a thirst for glasses-wearers. OUR TIME HAS COME. EDIT: how in the heck did I confuse vault and pommel horse lol, my brain is dying.” With all three donning glasses in their respective sports, is the bespectacled supremacy here to stay.

Indeed, Stephen Nedoroscik rose to fame through both standout gymnastics performances and viral moments. At the Games, he played a key role in securing the U.S. team’s bronze medal in gymnastics. His extended wait on the sidelines, lasting over two hours, became a viral sensation as the image of him leaning back with his eyes closed captured the public’s imagination. And as for the Korean shooter girl, that would be Kim Ye-ji who has a separate fandom of her own.

Another fan humorously quipped, “Waiting to see if he contracts with any gaming companies to create a skin lol.” This playful remark taps into the global fascination with Japanese skincare, where people often envy their flawless, glowing complexion – a result of meticulous routines, balanced diets, and healthy lifestyles. The fan’s comment gives the idea that Yusuf Dikec’s newfound fame might just open doors for him to become the face of gaming skins. In essence, they’re saying he’s hitched his wagon to a star and could boost Japanese products even further with his viral success.

One more added, “I was surprised he did so well without equipment 🥈! He’s being called ‘Turkish John Wick’ for his cool, collected demeanor and impressive marksmanship. This silver medal is Yusuf Dikec’s first Olympic medal and a major feather in his cap after five Olympic appearances since his debut at the 2008 Beijing Games. Born on January 1, 1973, in Goksun, Turkey, Dikec has carved out a distinguished career in shooting. A graduate of Gazi University of Physical Training and Education with a master’s degree in Coaching from Selcuk University, his impressive accomplishments are because of his hard work and experience too!

One more added, “This guy is now the meme of the Olympics. He deserves it, he is super cool and at least its for a wholesome reason.” This praise comes in light of Dikec’s standout performance despite finishing 13th in his individual event and now wrapping up his journey at the Paris Olympics. Looking ahead, he’s setting his sights on the 2028 Games, expressing, “I hope next in Los Angeles (for) a gold medal.” Embracing his newfound fame, Dikec has even reposted a video compilation of Turkish-language memes about him on his Instagram page, showing he’s taking the viral sensation in his stride.

One final fan added, “Apparently he was in the military.” Indeed, Yusuf Dikec is a retired senior master sergeant of the Turkish Gendarmerie and attended military school. Public records reveal that he even traveled to India to compete in the Military World Games in Hyderabad in 2007. With such a rich history and a knack for capturing public interest, it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for him. Here’s hoping his journey continues to be filled with more highlights and memes that keep fans rabble rousing.