NBC DFW – Devin Ross never thought a life in the pool would be his ticket to success.

“As a kid, I always dreamed of doing something great or inspiring people, I just never thought it would come through swimming,” Ross said.

Julia Anderson would watch as other kids would shine at meets.

“I would look at those people who were really fast and going to trials and say, aw… maybe one day, I can make trials or something,” said Anderson.

But for both of them, those childhood dreams are alive and well.

Together they are headed to the Olympic Trials for the chance to represent Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

But the road has been a long and steady uphill battle.

For Devin, the climbed started when he was three years old. That’s when doctors diagnosed him with autism.

“They basically told my mom, ‘your son would never make it to college, would never live on his own,’ and I think they even said that I would have to be institutionalized at one point,” Ross said.

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