The two Olympic shooters going viral for their captivating aura
The Olympic Games are always a whirlwind of emotions and adrenaline, with winners, losers, and even those who quit.
This year, social media users have created a new category for athletes who not only deliver peak performance but also exude a captivating aura. South Korea’s Kim Yeji and Turkey’s Yusuf Dikec have stood out in this regard.
Kim Yeji
The 31-year-old shooter from South Korea showcased absolute control and charisma in the 10-meter women’s air pistol event. A video of Yeji, captioned “The most ‘Main Character Energy’,” has gone viral, amassing over 37 million views on X and more than 338,000 likes. Yeji won a silver medal in the women’s 10-meter air pistol. Her sporting gear added to her “main character energy,” as she wore a black South Korea uniform zipped up to the neck, a backward baseball hat, and black wire-rimmed shooting glasses. “I am confident all the time. … I, Kim Yeji, am going to win gold no matter what,” she told reporters.
Yusuf Dikec
Turkey’s 51-year-old pistol shooter, Yusuf Dikec, captured public attention with his unique style and charisma. Dikec went viral after a picture of him surfaced on social media, showing him without the specialised goggles or ear protection common among Olympic shooting competitors. Instead, Dikec wore regular prescription glasses, a regular shirt, and earplugs, yet still managed to outperform much of the competition. “My shooting technique is one of the rare shooting techniques in the world. I shoot with both eyes open. Even the referees are surprised by this,” he said. Dikec, along with his partner Sevval Ilayda Tarhan, took second place in the mixed team 10-meter air pistol event, despite his minimal gear.
The games started in France's capital, Paris on July 26, and are expected to end on August 11, 2024.
