US rugby player is faster than Usain Bolt
Meet Carlin Isles, the man who can run faster than Usain Bolt and jump higher than most NBA stars.
He is one extraordinary athlete, and there’s no surprises he’s eyeing off a trip to Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games.
But this American is not a track and field star, he plays rugby sevens. And he is hoping to lead the USA Eagles to the Rio Games.
In a new video released by HSBC for their #BRINGYOURGAME campaign, Isles’ speed and power is tested against some NBA, NFL and sprint stars.
Over 20 metres, he is faster than Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt, clocking 2.67 seconds to Bolt’s 2.89.
His best 100 metres time of 10.13 seconds would have seen him qualify for the semi-finals of the 2012 London Olympics.
His one-leg vertical leap of 1.06 metres would rank him in the top 10 all-time for NBA players and easily beats that of LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant (96.5).
And at last year’s NFL scouting combine — in which college football players undergo a series of tests — he set the fastest time out of anyone.
Isles had a brief practice contract with the Detroit Lions NFL team but in February he committed himself to rugby union and learning the differing skills of the full 15-man game as opposed to the abbreviated format in which he made his reputation.
