Audiences watching the Paris Olympics were taken aback by the size of one of the shooting targets.
The ninth day of the 2024 Olympics has just commenced, promising another exciting day filled with remarkable sporting feats.
Yesterday was particularly notable, as the boxer embroiled in a gender eligibility controversy stepped into the ring for the first time since her disputed 46-second bout.
Meanwhile, Simone Biles continued to affirm her status as the greatest of all time, dominating the gymnastics events as expected.
The Olympics has also sparked an interest in sports previously unfamiliar to many viewers, with shooting gaining significant attention this time around.
Following the action in Paris, numerous viewers took to Twitter to remark on one particular aspect… the size of the target.
“This is the Olympic air rifle shooting target size, where athletes stand 10m away from the target,” one person wrote on the social media platform, sharing a photo of the target.
The general reaction was one of disbelief at the target’s small size.
“No way it’s that small,” commented one user, while another added, “It looked much bigger on the TV…”
One user humorously suggested, “Need a banana for scale.”
Understanding the tiny size of the target makes the accomplishment of the Olympic shooter who competed without specialized equipment and secured a silver medal even more remarkable.
Yusuf Dikeç, 51, competed for Turkey in the Mixed 10m Air Pistol event alongside Şevval İlayda Tarhan, 24.
The Olympics website explains that in this indoor event, “each team member fires 40 shots and the five top-scoring teams slug it out for the overall honors.”
While most competitors used specialized equipment, Dikeç opted not to.
The Turkish athlete wore a simple pair of regular glasses as he took aim, one hand in his pocket, and his casual approach was praised on social media.
Despite the lack of advanced technology, the Olympian maintained his focus and performed impressively to win a silver medal.
Discussing his outstanding performance and unconventional technique in Paris, Dikeç told Turkish radio station Radyo Gol, “I shoot with both eyes; most shooters do it with one. So I didn’t want all that equipment.”
“Shooting with two eyes – I believe that it’s better. I’ve done a lot of research on it, so I didn’t need the equipment.”
“Shooting with my hand in my pocket has nothing to do with artistry. I am more motivated and feel more comfortable while shooting.”