The Turkish Yusuf Dikeç made headlines again. One year after surprising the world at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with his carefree attitude while winning the silver medal, the 52-year-old shooter repeated the feat: he was crowned champion at the European Champions League of Air Pistol, once again with one hand in his pocket and without using protective glasses or a helmet.
The competition took place from October 1 to 5 in Istanbul and brought together the best shooters on the continent. In the final, Dikeç defeated the German Paul Fröhlich, securing gold for Türkiye alongside his teammate Mustafa İnan. The Turkish duo surpassed the German team made up of Fröhlich and Christian Reitz in the men's 10-meter team category.
The victory was celebrated throughout the country, especially in Kahramanmaraş, the former police officer's hometown, where the achievement was considered a source of national pride. "Gold medal won at the end of a challenging three-day competition," Dikeç wrote on his social media alongside a photo of the trophy.
