The funniest reactions and memes to the Paris Olympic shooting events

Olympic shooting goes viral for the roster of competing athletes—from “cool” South Korean sharpshooter Kim Ye-ji to Turkey’s nonchalant 51-year-old shooter Yusuf Dikeç

Shooting has been  part of the Summer Olympic Games since 1896, but the sport is getting a lot of buzz this year thanks to the roster of athletes competing. The internet in particular has taken great interest in the style, swag, and aura of the shooting athletes of various countries.

One of those who captured netizens’ attention is South Korean sharpshooter Kim Ye-ji, who recently won silver in the 10m air pistol women’s event. Dressed in all-black with a piercing look through her shooting glasses, netizens have likened her style and composure to the main character of a sci-fi film or anime. 

Another aspect of her look that caught the internet’s attention is the cute stuffed elephant toy hanging on her waist—the sole item that breaks her cool look but adds even more charm, as it was revealed that the toy actually belongs to her daughter.

Meanwhile, the internet has created a whole new backstory for Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç. The 51-year-old athlete went viral for his casual, nonchalant stance at the event in which he won a silver medal. In contrast to Kim’s sleek look, Dikeç, in the viral photo, is wearing a simple white T-shirt emblazoned with his home country’s name, hand in one pocket, and no specialized gear. According to the memes, he may have been just some regular guy competing at the Olympics or a retired hitman being called out of retirement to compete.

The Associated Press, however, debunked the internet’s new lore. Dikeç has been part of the Summer Olympic Shooting events since 2008.

Team China, meanwhile, has entered the Olympic shooting arena decked in what GQ has described as “real-life Fortnite skins.”

The variety of personalities from this sport alone is enough to send the internet’s creativity into overdrive. Leave it to social media to deliver meme after meme. Here are some of our favorites.

Got more Olympic memes to share? Tag us at @scoutmagph