OAKLAND, Calif. – From their early days as bouncing Boy Scouts to the demanding journey of becoming Eagle Scouts, to their days as national champion shooters and, eventually, top-notch college rowers each studying engineering, twins Grant and Ross James always have taken parallel paths in life.

The brothers from DeKalb knew that could end as they chased their Olympic dream. One might make it, while the other stayed home.

Then, Ross landed the last seat in the U.S. eight boat that captured the final spot in the eight-country Olympic field.