TAKING THE ELEVATOR STRAIGHT UP

Boxing is one of the most individual of sports, but when Antonio Tarver, 27, talks about his eight-year-long quest for Olympic gold, he often uses "we" instead of "I." In 1995 the tall (6 ft. 2 in.), lanky (178 lbs.) light-heavyweight from Orlando, Florida, became the first American ever to win U.S., World and Pan American championships in the same year, and he is the best hope for U.S. boxing gold in Atlanta. "Through the years, a lot of people have been there for me," he says. "We've worked very, very hard. "

The "we" is what he jokingly refers to as "Team Tarver." It revolves around his mother Gwendolyn, who raised Antonio and his three sisters by herself. When Tarver, just 19, with no job or college prospects, developed a cocaine problem, his mother gave him the strength to get help. "She's a best friend," he says. "She just never gave up on me." The experience, he says, was "the turning point of my life. I've been to the bottom, and there was only one way to go: up. I've taken this elevator straight to the top." Other members of Team Tarver: Ron Smith, a construction worker whom Tarver calls his personal adviser; and his coach, Lou Harris. "There were times when we wanted to quit," says Tarver, "but he always kept that goal in my face." Then there's Antonio Jr., 8, who lives with his mom (she and Antonio never married). "I'm trying to be the best father I can," he says. "I refuse to see him go through the things I did."

All of Team Tarver will be in Atlanta if, as expected, Antonio makes the Olympic team this week. "Oh, man," he says of completing his quest, "it would be a wonderful, wonderful thing."

ANOTHER CHANCE LOST

Rower John Riley, one of the favorites to represent the U.S. in single sculls, lost his chance to make the Olympic team after he suffered a broken left collarbone in an auto accident the night before the finals. Riley, 32, had been a member of two previous Olympic teams but retired after the world championships in 1994 and became a coach. Last year, however, he launched a comeback in hopes of reaching an unfulfilled goal: finally winning an Olympic medal.

CAUGHT IN ITS OWN WEB

The Atlanta Games' Internet site for ticket sales www.atlanta.olympic.org has turned decidedly low-tech. Officials had said E-mail orders would be confirmed within 24 hours. Since the Website is not connected to a mainframe computer, however, many orders are being processed by overburdened phone operators. As a result, confirmation often takes two weeks or more. Things have been further confused because some worried customers have repeated their orders.

BEYOND THE PALE

Apartheid was dismantled in 1994. Many South Africans remain concerned, though, about the continued racial imbalance in sport. Whites make up less than 15% of the population, but will probably fill 65 of the 80 slots on the 1996 Olympic team. "We are deeply involved in trying to develop talent from the black sector," says Sam Ramsamy, president of the National Olympic Committee. "By 2000 we will see more black athletes representing South Africa."