Carolyn Green swam for the Fort Lauderdale Swim Association, and competed at the 1952 Olympics for the United States, where she made the final but just missed a medal. She was best at the distances, winning three individual AAU titles in the 1954 400 metres outdoors, the 1952 500 yards indoors, and the 1953 400 yards indoors. Green also helped Fort Lauderdale SA win the 1954 AAU 4x200 m free relay outdoors. Green swam at the 1951 and 1955 Pan American Games, winning four medals, with silvers in the 400 freestyle and golds in the 4x100 freestyle both years. She was hampered by the longest event on the Olympic program coming at 400 metres in her era, as she set one American record in the 800 freestyle in 1954 and two in the 1,500 metres (1951, 1954).