Paris Olympics fashion provides glimmer of unity for Turkey’s polarized public

ANKARA — The Paris Olympics have been providing Turkey’s public with a minor opportunity to unite through the style and fashion of Turkish Olympians, while the country remains deeply divided over major cultural and political fault lines.

Earlier this week, Yusuf Dikec, a 51-year-old air pistol shooter and five-time Olympian, clinched a silver medal in the mixed-team competition and captured global attention by casually defying convention.

Unlike his rival, equipped with sophisticated eye and ear gear, Dikec took the shot without protective gear, both eyes open and one hand casually tucked in his pocket — a display of confidence that quickly went viral on social media. His performance offered a much-needed boost to Turkish morale amid bitter cultural and political divisions.

Yusuf Dikec, a 51-year-old Turkish athlete, made headlines at the Paris Olympics 2024 for his unique approach to shooting. Dikec competed in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, where he and his teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan secured a silver medal for Turkey. What caught the… pic.twitter.com/KPug9Vcdxt

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) August 1, 2024