While the vast majority of people likely watch the Summer Olympics for gymnastics, swimming, track & field and other mainstream events, shooting events allow shooters from around the world to test their skills against the very best in the world. Seldom, however, do they receive much media attention compared to the likes of typical Olympic sensations Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky.
Yusuf Dicek & Kim Yiju – Olympic Sensations
This year that trend has changed somewhat. While the U.S. shooters have largely struggled so far at the Paris competition, two shooters from other countries have become overnight internet sensations. And the reason why is because of their compelling, out-of-the-ordinary stories.
Yusuf Dicek
Likely unknown to many from his home country of Turkey, Yusuf Dicek has become nearly a household name around the world thanks to his winning a silver medal in the air pistol team even in Paris. Dicek’s shooting prowess isn’t so much what has drawn the attention, rather it has been his equipment used while competing and the interesting backstory on how he took up the sport.
First, the equipment. While most of the shooters in the air pistol competition are decked out in fancy regalia, wearing large hearing protection devices, specialized shooting glasses and visors or blinders over one eye to help with focus and to reduce the glare of the lights, Dicek shoots in a t-shirt and his regular, everyday glasses. Even better, the 51-year-old Turk stands in somewhat of a strange casual position, aiming his pistol with his right hand with his left hand in his pants pocket.
Watching him stand on the line looking like a grandpa at the local range is uninspiring until you see him make precise shot after precise shot. And that precision helped catapult him to a silver medal.
Say What Again …
https://t.co/0BYOzWF7gb pic.twitter.com/o5314lSr7m
— JagermaN (@JagermaNz) July 31, 2024
His backstory is equally compelling, however. The true story is that he began shooting competitively in 2001, after he started working as a non-commissioned officer for the Gendarmerie General Command. He’s a five-time Olympian who previously competed in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.
The not-so-true story that quickly made its way around the world wide web was more compelling. According to that account, Dicek was a mechanic who just started shooting a few years ago after a particularly difficult divorce. And according to the internet spin, while on the podium accepting his medal, he said to his ex-wife, “Sharon, if you’re watching this, I want my dog back.”
While the fake story is more exciting than the real account, Dicek nevertheless is now undoubtedly the most famous Turkish pistol shooter to ever compete in the Olympic Games.
Kim Yeji
South Korean air pistol shooter Kim Yeji came about her internet fame in much the opposite way as Dicek did. She shot somewhat poorly and didn’t collect a medal. But in her shooting setup, she looked like something out of a science fiction movie, drawing a lot of interest from viewers around the world. In fact, one of the best descriptions I’ve read of Yeji’s appearance was that she looked “like something between an expert diamond dealer and a crack sniper for some renegade sci-fi army.”
A little woman with a big pistol, Yeji wears a specialized metal glasses frame. Suspended in front of her right eye is a lens that looks like the ones you look through at the optometrist to determine your prescription. A small card with “Paris 2024” and the Olympic rings is suspended in front of her left eye.
The cool factor resulted in her getting nearly as much notoriety as Dicek did—a fact that was a huge surprise to her, especially given her subpar performance.
Yeji Goes Viral
same pose. same aura. insane pic.twitter.com/2zX3iiorxT
— Michaela 🍓 (@Michisugussy95) July 30, 2024
“I made a big mistake this time and created a big event,” she told reporters. “I feel very apologetic toward the many people I must have disappointed, and I feel very sorry toward the people who must have had high expectations.”
She added: “I am very grateful for the love and interest people have shown me. For the next four years, I will train harder and repay you all with better results at the L.A. Olympics.”
Not a big social media user, Yeji said all of the worldwide attention surprised her.
“I don’t usually use a lot of social media, so reading all the DMs, one by one, and all of them are in different languages because the messages came from many different countries,” she said. “It hurt my head, and before the competition I told myself to exercise some self-control. Now, I’m wondering if I should respond to the messages.”
In the end, Yeji said it didn’t “feel real to become famous.”
“I don’t understand why people loved me to that point, but I just feel grateful for everyone’s love and encouragement,” she said.
