Atlantis is an invitational 7s rugby club whose mission is to encourage and develop American rugby by playing domestic and international tournaments; since being founded in 1986 approximately 1500 total players and 250 USA Eagles have played for Atlantis.

This article was contributed by Emil Signes, Atlantis Rugby Founder

Among those players are seven individuals who have been chosen to represent the USA at the Tokyo Olympics.

On the women's side Atlantis will be represented on the field by Abby Gustaitis, Ariana Ramsey, and ChetaEmba with Emilie Bydwell serving as Head of Women's High Performance and on the men's side Atlantis will be represented by Brett Thompson, Carlin Isles, and Naima Fualaau.

Abby Gustaitis began playing rugby at the University of Maryland in 2010 and went on to play senior club rugby with Northern Virginia Women's Rugby. From 2015-2016 she was a resident at the Olympic Training Site in Chula Vista, CA and in 2016 she captained Scion Rugby to a Club 7s National Championship.

She earned his first 15s cap in 2016 and made her first HSBC 7s series appearance in 2017. She is one of the co-captains for the Olympics.

Ariana Ramsey is a current player for Dartmouth who started playing rugby in high school for Pennsylvania United where she was coached by Atlantis members Kate Flanagan and Wayne DiMarco. She was also a member of the Phoenixville U19 program.

Her selection for the Olympic team comes on the heels of a strong performance at the Pan American Games.

Cheta Emba was a Division 1 soccer goalie for Harvard who picked up rugby as a new way to cross-train. She excelled in both sports and during her senior year she attended her first camp at the Olympic Training Site and earned her first 15s cap in 2015.

In 2016 Cheta made her debut with the Eagles 7s team in Dubau and has since suited up for both the 15s and 7s Rugby Atlantis Rugby Sends 7 Players & Staff Members to Tokyo Olympics Atlantis is an invitational 7s rugby club whose mission is to encourage and develop American rugby by playing domestic and international tournaments.

Emilie Bydwell began playing rugby in high school in Quebec before attending Brown University where she was a three-time Collegiate All-American and 2007 Collegiate Player of the Year.

She then joined the San Diego Surfers and also played for the USA Eagles from 2008-2014.

She is currently the USA Rugby General Manager of Women's High Performance in Chula Vista and also coaches the Girls High School All-Americans.

Brett Thompson began playing rugby at the age of 14 having grown up around the game in Tempe, AZ as a multi-sport athlete. At the University of Arizona he spent two years as a football player before transitioning to rugby.

He made his debut with the Eagles 7s in 2012 in Sydney and earned his first 15s cap in 2014. Brett has played in three Rugby World Cups across 7s (2013, 2018) and 15s (2015).

Carlin Isles grew up as a football/track athlete who was successful in both sports in high school and college.

His 100 meter time of 10.13 seconds would have been good enough to make the semi-finals of the 2012 Olympic Games but he was not selected for the team and began his rugby career shortly thereafter.

Carlin made his tournament debut with the Eagles and the 2012 Gold Coast 7stournament and has gone on to become the seventh leading try scorer in international men's rugby 7s history.

Naima Fuala'au began playing rugby at the age of 13 growing up in Hayward, CA.

He is a talented player who stood out at Life West and impressed the USA men's coaches with his sense of the game.

He made his debut for the Eagles as an 18 year old at the 2017 London 7s Tournament and looks set to have a long and productive career as an international 7s player.

—Emil Signes