Ross James

James and his twin brother, Grant, will both make their first Olympic appearances this summer after helping the Americans win the eights at the final qualification regatta in Switzerland in May. The two were the only members of the U.S. team that finished eighth and failed to qualify for the Games out of the 2011 world championships in Slovenia. James, who will turn 25 two weeks after the Olympic rowing competition at Eton Gorney ends, is a native of DeKalb, Ill. Both walked on to the rowing team at Wisconsin and were part of the Badgers’ varsity eight boat that won the Eastern Sprints and IRA Championships in 2008. James earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Systems Engineering from Wisconsin in 2010, and is employed as an engineering consultant. James also finished ninth in the eight at the 2009 world championships and took gold the year before in that event at the U-23 championships.