Neil Wilson (figure skater)

Neil Wilson (born 26 June 1978) is a British former competitive figure skater. He is a three-time British national champion in men's singles (1997, 2000, and 2003) and reached the free skate at nine ISU Championships – two World Championships, four European Championships, and three World Junior Championships.

Neil Wilson
Personal information
Country representedUnited Kingdom
Born (1978-06-26) 26 June 1978
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Former coachJoanne McLeod, Kevin Bursey, Philip and Sue Walsh
Former choreographerJoanne McLeod, Kevin Cottam
Former skating clubCentrum Elite, Arestwick
Former training locationsVancouver
Ayr
Began skating1986
Retired2004

Career

Wilson began skating at age eight after a rink opened near his home.[1] He competed at three World Junior Championships, achieving his best result, sixth, in 1997 in Seoul, South Korea. He also competed at four World Championships — best result: 20th at the 1996 Worlds in Edmonton, Alberta — and four European Championships, obtaining his best result, 13th, at the 1999 Europeans in Prague, Czech Republic. Wilson defeated Steven Cousins to win the 1997 British Championships, held in November 1996.[2] He would go on to win two more senior national titles.

In 1997, Wilson entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the most rotations in an upright spin — he performed a forward scratch spin with 60 uninterrupted rotations.[1] His coaches included Philip and Sue Walsh and then Kevin Bursey in Ayr, Scotland.[3] In June 2001, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where his coach became Joanne McLeod.[1]

Wilson retired from competition after the 2004 World Championships in Dortmund. He became a figure skating coach and choreographer at the BC Center of Excellence in Burnaby, British Columbia. He has worked with Kevin Reynolds, Jeremy Ten,[4] and Kelsey Wong.[5]

Programmes
Season Short programme Free skating
2002–2003
[6][1]
  • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor
    by Julius Conus
    performed by the Russian National Orchestra
2000–2001
[3]
  • Sikuriadas
    by Incantation

Competitive highlights

GP: Champions Series/Grand Prix

International[6][3]
Event 93–94 94–95 95–96 96–97 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04
Worlds20th33rd26th23rd
Europeans16th15th13th14th
GP Skate Canada9th11th
Finlandia Trophy13th8th
Golden Spin5th
Nebelhorn Trophy9th
Skate Israel13th
International: Junior[6][3]
Junior Worlds12th10th6th
Blue Swords8th J.5th J.
EYOF8th J.
National[6][3]
British Champ.1st J.5th2nd1st2nd1st2nd1st2nd
J. = Junior level

References
  1. Mittan, Barry (27 June 2003). "Move to Vancouver Rejuvenates Britain's Wilson". Golden Skate.
  2. Burton, Mark (16 November 1996). "Ice Skating: Hard acts for Cousins to follow". Independent.co.uk.
  3. "Neil WILSON: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2001.
  4. "Jeremy TEN: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  5. "Kelsey WONG: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014.
  6. "Neil WILSON: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012.
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