After representing Great Britain, Stuart Wilson emigrated to Australia in 1982 to marry his partner, Australian lightweight rower Leisa Paterson.[6][7] She had represented her country in the women's coxed quad scull at the 1978 World Rowing Championships in Cambridge, New Zealand.[8] They had a son James Wilson, who is also an international rower for Australia.[6][9][10] Leisa Wilson died in February 2017 after a long illness.[11]
Wilson was first selected to represent Australia in the lightweight men's eight at the 1978 FISA Lightweight Championships in Copenhagen, but he had not been in Australia for long enough and was ineligible. He was replaced by Jeff Sykes, and the Australian team went on to win bronze.[14]
At the 1984 World Rowing Championships, Ian and Stuart Wilson made history by competing against each other representing different countries.[6] The brothers rowed in the lightweight men's four, and Ian Wilson won bronze with the British team, while Stuart Wilson's Australian team came sixth.[15]
After rowing
Wilson is general manager for Sykes Racing, a manufacturer of rowing shells based in Geelong, and has been with the company since 1981.[16] His son James is also employed by Sykes Racing.[17]
