Born in Kristiania on 10 October 1896,[1] Nilsen represented the club SK av 1909.

He competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics, where he placed fourth in Freestyle wrestling.

[2] He won a bronze medal in the lightweight class at the 1922 World Wrestling Championships.

[3] Nilsen died in Oslo on 19 October 1968.

This biographical article relating to a Norwegian sport wrestler or wrestling coach is a stub.