Paris Olympics: Meet Turkey’s 51-Year-Old Yusuf Dikec, Who Won Silver with Minimal Gear

Yusuf Dikeç, is a Turkish sport shooter who competes in pistol events.

He is a retired non-commissioned officer of the Turkish Gendarmerie and a member of the Jandarma Gücü Sports Club

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Yusuf Dikeç, born on January 1, 1973, in Taşoluk village, Göksun district, Kahramanmaraş Province, Turkey, began his sport shooting career in 2001.

After completing his primary and secondary education, he joined the Military School of Gendarmerie in Ankara in 1994.

Upon graduation, Dikeç served in various locations, eventually joining the Jandarma Gücü Sports Club in Ankara, where he began his competitive shooting journey.

 Achievements and Records

Dikeç has achieved significant milestones in his shooting career. In 2006, he set a world record in the 25m center-fire pistol event at the CISM Military World Championships held in Rena, Norway.

He also won a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event at the 2012 ISSF World Cup Final in Bangkok.

At the 2013 European Shooting Championships in Osijek, Croatia, he secured multiple medals, including gold in the 25m standard and center-fire pistol events.

Olympic Success

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Dikeç, aged 51, won the silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.

He competed alongside Şevval İlayda Tarhan, and the team finished just behind the Serbian duo in the final. This achievement highlights Dikeç’s continued excellence and dedication to the sport.