Willie Banks is still a showman at his best.
Willie Banks, the triple jump legend and the hero of the World Championships in Helsinki 40 years ago, is still a showman. It was shown by Banks on Friday in Lempäälä.
Banks, 67, who dances salsa as a hobby in San Diego, thrilled the audience by dancing to Käärijä’s Cha Cha Cha Eurovision song with smooth movements.
After some salsa and zumba moves and smiles were on the rise!
– These claps I started in 1981 became familiar all over the world, both in Japan, South America and Finland. I love Finland and Käärijä’s song, says Banks
Willie Banks enjoys Finland. Joona Rissanen
He got injected already at the age of 17 in 1973 for the first time in Finland. He reveals that the trip was a turning point for the Yankee boy.
– I had experienced racial discrimination, but this trip somehow empowered me and opened my eyes. I gained self-confidence from Europe and Finland, says the 1983 World Cup silver medalist, who revealed himself to be a democrat and a reader of political subjects at university.
– I dance salsa and zumba five times a week at home. I am the father of four children and my fifth grandchild is on the way.
As a sober man, he doesn’t buy vodka from Finland to take home, but souvenirs.
– I take glass and wooden objects. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve been in Finland. And I’ll be back soon, the man laughs widely.
He vaguely remembers the reporter of this story from the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki and the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, when we had coffee in the competition village.
Banks will fly back to San Diego on July 5.
There were more than 100 child athletes in the Ideapark, and many immediately started thinking about the banks of their own generation, with which to entertain the audience.
Traditional jumping carnivals are going on in Lempäälä. The main races of the event will be jumped on Saturday.
Willie Banks made the Jumping Carnival crowd laugh. Juha Veli Jokinen