Atoy Wilson facts for kids

Atoy Wilson was born around 1951 or 1952. He is a retired American figure skater. He was coached by Mabel Fairbanks and later by Peter Betts. Wilson represented the Los Angeles Skating Club during his career.

Early Skating Days

Atoy Wilson started skating when he was eight years old. He became interested after watching an Ice Follies show. He then asked for lessons to learn how to skate.

Making History in 1965

In 1965, Atoy Wilson made history. He became the first African-American skater to compete at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. He placed second in the novice division that year.

During this competition, Atoy and his mother faced a challenge. They could not stay at the official competition hotel. This was because the hotel had rules that only allowed white guests.

Winning a National Title

At the 1966 championships, Atoy Wilson won the novice title. He became the first black skater to win a national title in figure skating. This was a big achievement, even though he fell on his first jump during his free skate.

Life After Competitive Skating

After his win, Atoy moved up to the junior level. He then qualified for the senior level of competition. However, in 1969, he decided to focus on his education. He chose to study at Loyola Marymount University. This meant he ended his competitive skating career. He did not try to qualify for the 1972 Winter Olympics team.

Professional Performances

From 1971 until 1988, Atoy Wilson toured as a professional skater. He performed with popular ice shows like Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice.

Career After Skating

After retiring from performing, Atoy Wilson continued to work in the skating world. He was a coach and an assistant director for ice skating schools. These schools were located at Hyatt Regency hotels in Dubai.

Later, he worked in the business side of Warner Brothers. Currently, he works in production accounting for the television industry. In 2025, Atoy Wilson was honored for his achievements. He was added to the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Competition Results