As the Paris Olympics continue to send the globe’s greatest athletes to compete against one another, anime fans have started to cling to the impressive skills of competitive shooters.
The Olympics feature a wide range of competitors, but this year, it’s competitive shooters like Yusuf Dikec (Turkey), Kim Yeji (South Korea), and Daehan Choe (South Korea) who have won over pop-culture fans. Dikec and Kim, specifically, are two shooters that social media have taken to, with many saying they are each one side of the same coin.
Kim has been compared to Jujutsu Kaisen’s Satoru Gojo – and for good reason. Dikec, on the other hand, has been given the nickname "Uncle Free-to-Play" because he doesn't wear much gear compared to other competitors (basically, comparing him to a gamer who doesn't need to spend money on freemium games to win).
If it's still not making sense, just check out the side-by-sides and fan art below.
same pose. same aura. insane pic.twitter.com/2zX3iiorxT
— Michaela ? (@Michisugussy95) July 30, 2024
トルコのおじさんあまりにかっこよくてスケッチしてしまった 描いてみるとあらためてわかるんですけど姿勢の美しさがすごいわ pic.twitter.com/DAjEvKowDV
— さかき (@sakakir) August 1, 2024
Kim Ye-ji / Yusuf Dikeç
— Adrian Dittmann (@AdrianDittmann) August 1, 2024
By: luckymongdrawing pic.twitter.com/eSlwR61udI
Kim, a 31-year-old who nabbed a silver medal in the 10m air pistol women’s event, won the internet’s heart thanks to her unmatched style and laidback attitude. Dikec, 51, was awarded a silver medal too, but while most other competitors use specialized eyewear to level the playing field and dampen the effects of outside disturbances, he took home the prize for the 10m air pistol mixed team event with little gear. They both meet different definitions of cool, and skilled anime artists weren’t about to let them go without being immortalized as animated action characters.
Another athlete showing up on everyone’s social media feeds is South Korea’s Choe. The 19-year-old is only the latest competitor to take the internet by storm thanks to his arched-back shooting style. More fan art of all three Olympians is published every minute, with the trio being compared not only to anime main characters but video game icons, too. Choe’s style, for example, reminds Overwatch players of their resident sniper, Widowmaker.
劇場版、パリオリンピック射撃。
— MYU＠雑音系少年少女 (@myu060309) August 1, 2024
無課金おじさんよ、永遠にーーー pic.twitter.com/hBRqmFbXmU
No one can hide from my sights… https://t.co/9OWp0nfDKd
— gwin★zirkel (@gwinshin) July 31, 2024
The most "Main Character Energy" I've ever seen in my life.pic.twitter.com/ExuXVxB3VB
— Del Walker ?? (@TheCartelDel) July 30, 2024
The Olympics began July 26 and run until August 11, 2024. That means there is just less than two weeks left for the world to compete and, inevitably, deliver more viral, fan-art-worthy moments. If you're looking to tune in, you can see some streaming options here.
Image credit: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
