Atoy Wilson

Atoy Wilson (born around 1951 or 1952)^[1] is a retired American figure skater. Coached by Mabel Fairbanks and then Peter Betts, he represented the Los Angeles Skating Club.^[1]

Wilson began skating when he was eight years old; he asked for lessons after seeing an Ice Follies performance.^[2] In 1965, he was the first African-American skater to compete at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, placing second in the novice division.^[3] He and his mother were unable to stay at the official competition hotel, as it was segregated and only allowed white guests.^[4] At the 1966 championships, he won the novice title despite falling on his first jump in his free skate and became the first black skater to win a national title in figure skating.^[2][4]

Afterward, he moved up to the junior level and then qualified for the senior level, but in 1969, he chose to pursue a degree at Loyola Marymount University and finished his competitive career rather than attempt to qualify for the 1972 Winter Olympics team.^[4] He toured professionally with Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice from 1971 until 1988.^[5]

Following his retirement as a performer, Wilson was a coach and assistant director of ice skating schools for Hyatt Regency hotels in Dubai. A stint on the business side of Warner Brothers followed, and he is currently involved in production accounting for the television industry.^[1] In 2025, he was added to the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame.^[4]