Yusuf Dikec, the cult character of the Paris games, after silver at the games also won the Europeans in the individual race: “I learned to shoot during military service. My particular style, without equipment? I never imitated anyone, the secret lies in breathing and control. The real target is inside you”
Yusuf Dikec, just him. Here it is (again) the Olympic James Bond, the man with Colt. The shooter who must never ask for. He won the last European (against the German Paul Frohlich). With your hands in your pocket. “I challenged a weapon for the first time during military service. My instructor noticed my firmness and said: ‘You should try this sport.’ I did it. And I no longer stopped.” In Paris he became the calm and relaxed gunste. Later he turned into a meme, an idol, a character. Between Taxi Driver and a Marvel hero. They called him from Hollywood. “Yes, there was a playful hint on James Bond’s new film. I replied: ‘My job is to hit the target, Bond’s work is to stay alive’. Fun.” Raised in Göksun, Türkiye, 52 years old, a daughter, a cat. And that iconic pose that has become legend all over the world. Acclaimed, esteemed, celebrated. Very imitated. Yusuf smiles: “Sometimes they recognize me in the most random places – says Yusuf to the Gazzetta -, like the supermarket. It is strange but beautiful. Popularity can tire, but I see it as the affection of people”.
How has your life changed after Olympic silver?
“Now the battery of my phone is downloaded much faster. Seriously. I have received incredible support from all over the world. It is a source of humility, but my life is always the same: training, tea, family, and concentration”.
And Tarçın, cinnamon, his cat.
“Yes, he is independent, stubborn and elegant. He is 7 years old, he is a British Shorthair. Maybe that’s why we get along so. I love animals. The cats bring peace to my life. I was born in a small city, where discipline and respect mean everything. I have served for a long time in the army. Now I am a professional athlete, but I still live a simple life: quiet mornings, strong tea and my cat.”
Instead what did the Olympics brought?
“The games are the summit for each athlete, but for me it is more than competing is to represent my country. At each blow I feel the flag on the shoulder. I want to show what discipline, patience and faith can obtain”.
And what do you think of this success?
“This result shows that success was not a coincidence. Each race tells a new story, but determination, discipline and calm remain the same”.
He received very strange requests from all over the world. Was there a really absurd one that surprised him?
“I received messages from everywhere, not only from Turkey. Some were touching, others decidedly creative. A person wrote: ‘You are so good at hitting the targets, I guess you also hit hearts’. I smiled: sometimes people start seeing you not only as an athlete, but as a symbol. I dedicated the medal to my country, to Turkey, and all the young athletes who work in silence. Mia, but the pride is of all of us ”.
“To my daughter. He is the first person I think after every success. In this medal there are also his patience, his love and the trust he has in me”.
Is there a metaphor behind his sport?
“The shot concerns balance: not aggression, but concentration, breath and control. The real target is not on paper, it is within you”.
Excuse us, why do you use such a personal style?
“It comes natural to me. I have never imitated anyone, this style is the result of experience. If the results speak, the style does not need to speak.”
He puts his hands in his pocket, hear only glasses and almost does not use equipment. Does this style have a name?
“Let’s call it ‘calm precision’. The hands in your pocket remind me to remain relaxed and not to think too much”. How do you control your emotions?
“With the breath. Each blow begins and ends with the breath, that’s how I manage the adrenaline and keep the concentration. They serve a cold head and a passionate heart. Without emotion you lose the purpose, without calm you lose the precision”.
Was there a difficult moment in his career in which he thought of stopping?
“Yes, many times. Accidents, tiredness, time away from the family. But every time I thought I stopped, I remembered why I had started.”
Apart from shooting, what does it do?
“In my spare time I love being with my daughter and my cat. They remind me of calm, patience and what really matters in life. Sometimes being with them in nature, in silence or simply at home is worth more than anything else”.
Even of an Olympic podium?
“Of course. Even if being on the podium in Paris was the moment when years of work found reward. Seeing Turkish flags in the stands, that feeling is indescribable. And behind the scenes, tightening friendships with athletes from all over the world. That is priceless”.
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