Sports
Yusuf Dikec: Turkish Olympic Shooter Aims to Trademark Viral Stance
Turkey’s Olympic pistol sharpshooter Yusuf Dikec has taken steps to trademark his iconic nonchalant stance from the Paris Games, which quickly went viral and sparked a global trend. Dikec’s coach, Erdinc Bilgili, confirmed that an application was filed with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office to protect the commercial use of the pose after learning that others were attempting to trademark it without Dikec’s consent.
“After being informed of numerous trademark registration initiatives carried out without Yusuf Dikec’s knowledge, we submitted an application about a week ago,” Bilgili told AFP, adding that these unauthorized applications have since been rejected.
Dikec’s cool and composed stance during the competition, reminiscent of a fictional spy like James Bond, became a social media sensation. The pose inspired a wave of memes and even caught the attention of billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk, who shared a video of himself mimicking the stance.
Not just limited to the online world, Dikec’s pose was widely imitated by fellow athletes after he secured a silver medal in the mixed-team 10-meter air pistol event, Turkey’s first in this category, alongside teammate Sevval Ilayda Tarhan.
The influence of Dikec’s viral moment extended beyond the shooting range. Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson replicated the pose on Sunday to celebrate his goal against Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, further cementing the stance as a cultural phenomenon.
Turkish news channel TRT Haber reported that various memorabilia bearing Dikec’s likeness, including T-shirts, mugs, and mobile phone covers, have already gone on sale. The Turkish trademark office has yet to respond to AFP’s requests for comment on the matter.
In an interview with AFP in early August, Dikec downplayed the significance of the stance, explaining, “I only do it to keep my body more stable, to keep my balance. There’s nothing more to it.” Despite its simple origins, the stance has taken on a life of its own, symbolizing the athlete’s composed and focused approach to competition.
As Dikec moves to secure the rights to his now-famous pose, it remains to be seen how this will impact the use and commercialization of the stance that has captivated audiences worldwide.
