Wilde's greatest achievement was a world indoor best of 7:46.85 to win the 3000m gold medal at the 1970 European Athletics Indoor Championships. This stood as the championship record until 1973, when it was bettered by Emiel Puttemans of Belgium. That same year he placed sixth at the 1970 International Cross Country Championships and shared in the team title alongside individual medallists Mike Tagg and Trevor Wright. He made one more major international appearance, coming 61st at the 1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.