Türkiye’s national shooting squad has absolutely smashed it, bagging gold in all three team finals at the European Champions League.
The spotlight once again fell on veteran marksman Yusuf Dikec, who went viral worldwide at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
This time, Dikec teamed up with Mustafa Inan in the men’s 10-metre air pistol event, facing Germany’s Christian Reitz and Paul Froehlich.
The Turkish duo held their nerve and cruised to a 2-0 victory, delivering Türkiye’s first gold medal of the tournament.
Dikec later said competing in Istanbul—where the championship was hosted for the very first time—was an “incredible honour.”
“Winning here in front of a home crowd makes me very proud,” he explained after the victory.
He added that the triumph was perfect preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Cairo this November.
Türkiye’s women weren’t about to be overshadowed.
Damla Kose and Elif Berfin Altun stormed past Norway in the 10-metre air rifle team final to claim another gold.
Meanwhile, Esra Bozabali and Sevval Ilayda Tarhan toppled France in the 10-metre air pistol team final.
Those victories meant Türkiye completed a clean sweep—three events, three gold medals.
From Viral Star To National Hero
Dikec has become a global sensation thanks to his unique, stripped-back style.
He famously clinched silver in the mixed 10-metre air pistol at the Paris 2024 Olympics, shooting without extra support equipment.
Clips of his steady technique went viral, even drawing praise from Elon Musk and other high-profile names online.
Dikec insists his approach is all about discipline: “I trust my balance and focus instead of relying on gear,” he explained.
The veteran hopes that same mindset will bring Türkiye more success on the world stage later this year.
Featured image credit: The Olympics
