Carlin Isles facts for kids
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| Birth name | Carlin Russell Isles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | November 21, 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Akron, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Ashland University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Carlin Isles was born on November 21, 1989. He is an American rugby union player. He plays for the United States national rugby sevens team. Carlin is known as one of the fastest rugby players in the world.
He has scored 202 tries for the United States team. This makes him second in career tries for his country. Only his teammate Perry Baker has scored more.
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Carlin's Early Life
Carlin Isles and his twin sister, Tambra, grew up in Akron, Ohio. They lived in foster homes for a while. When they were seven, Starlett and Charles Isles adopted them. Carlin says his adoptive parents gave him the support he needed. This helped him do well in sports.
Carlin's Amazing Speed in Sports
Carlin Isles was a very talented athlete in high school. He played American football and ran track and field. He went to Jackson High School (Massillon, Ohio). Carlin set many school records there. These included records in the long jump, 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter races.
In 2007, he ran the 100m in 10.58 seconds. This was a new school and county record. He was also a two-time state champion in the 60m dash indoors. In his senior year, Carlin ran a super fast 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds. He was also a top football player.
Carlin continued his sports at Ashland University. He was an All-American in the 60m dash. He set a school record with a time of 6.68 seconds. He also holds freshman records for the 100m and 200m dashes. In football, he set records for kickoff returns. He once returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown!
Before he started playing rugby in 2012, Carlin was one of the fastest sprinters in the United States. His best time for the 100 meters was 10.15 seconds.
Carlin's Rugby Journey
Carlin Isles started playing rugby in 2012. Another athlete, Miles Craigwell, encouraged him to try the sport. Carlin played club rugby with the Gentlemen of Aspen RFC team.
People in the rugby world quickly noticed Carlin. In the summer of 2012, a magazine called him "The Fastest Man in American Rugby." He played for a national development team called Atlantis.
Playing for the National Team
Carlin first played for the US national sevens team in October 2012. He came into a game against New Zealand and scored a try in his very first minute! He scored three tries in that tournament. Carlin became a regular scorer for the United States team.
His incredible speed made him famous. A YouTube video called "Carlin Isles: Olympic Dream" went viral. It showed his amazing speed. A famous rugby commentator, Nigel Starmer-Smith, said in the video:
I've never seen anyone that quick on a rugby field ever ever, XVs or Sevens. I don't think anyone else has either.
Carlin played for the US national team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rugby sevens was a new sport at the Olympics that year.
On February 29, 2020, Carlin made history. He became the first USA player to score 200 tries. He did this in a game against Samoa in Los Angeles.
Carlin's Professional Rugby Career
Carlin Isles also played professional rugby for a short time. He signed with Glasgow Warriors in Scotland in February 2014. He played for their sevens team, which won the Melrose Sevens tournament.
Carlin also gained experience playing 15-a-side rugby with Ayr RFC. This was an amateur club. After that season, Carlin decided to focus on rugby sevens. He wanted to prepare for the 2016 Olympics. He was the top try-scorer for the U.S. team at that Olympic tournament.
Carlin's Time in the NFL
Carlin Isles also had a brief experience with the NFL. The Detroit Lions signed him to their practice squad on December 26, 2013. During a workout with the Lions, Carlin ran the 40-yard dash in an amazing 4.22 seconds.
In February 2014, Carlin left the Lions. He chose to sign his rugby contract with the Glasgow Warriors instead.
See Also
- List of players who have converted from one football code to another
