Wilson competed for the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics in the 400-meter race. In qualifying meets leading up to the Olympics, Wilson had bettered the world record in the event with a time of 47.7—a time that would have been good for the silver medal in Paris. At the Olympic games in Paris, he failed to qualify for the finals, though his quarterfinal time of 48.8 would have placed him in fourth place had he run that time in the finals. The 400-meter competition at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris (won by Eric Liddell) was later depicted in the Academy Award-winning film "Chariots of Fire."