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Turkish national shooter Yusuf Dikec has stepped up preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to secure qualification and compete for a gold medal after helping bring greater international attention to shooting at the Paris Games.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) during a visit to Türkiye's central Yozgat province, Dikec said qualifying for the Olympics remained his immediate priority, while winning gold was his ultimate ambition.
"Every athlete dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal," Dikec said, explaining that he had intensified his training schedule ahead of Los Angeles.
He added that he was working to address certain weaknesses before moving into a more demanding routine involving training five or six days a week.
Dikec said shooting had gained popularity both in Türkiye and internationally following the Paris Olympics, adding that he was pleased to have played a part in raising the sport's profile.
He also highlighted the importance of inspiring younger athletes, pointing to Turkish sporting figures such as weightlifter Naim Suleymanoglu and track athlete Sureyya Ayhan, whose achievements helped encourage future generations.
Dikec made the remarks while attending the opening of a newly completed shooting range and the groundbreaking ceremony for an athlete training camp center in Yozgat.
Welcoming the investments, he said expanding access to shooting facilities across Türkiye would help identify talented athletes who might otherwise go unnoticed.
"Talented athletes, craftsmen and artists are like precious minerals. You never know when or where they will emerge. You have to search for them and find them," he said.
Dikec also pointed to wrestler Riza Kayaalp and weightlifter Muhammed Furkan Ozbek as examples of successful athletes from Yozgat, expressing confidence that the province could eventually produce Olympic and world champions in shooting.
Encouraging families to introduce their children to sports, Dikec emphasized that athletic participation teaches discipline, focus, friendship and how to handle both victory and defeat.
"Sport has a unifying power," he said, urging young people to take up sporting activities and benefit from the opportunities they offer.
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