ACOG - News - IBM

(24 July 1996; Day 05)

Favorite's Performance Doesn't Live Up To Expectations

The United States'Antonio TARVER started off the light heavyweight class with a win, but just barely. TARVER is ranked second in the world, and was a triple gold medalist in 1995, winning the Pan-American Games, the U.S. Championships, and the World Championships. He is the favorite to win the gold medal. TARVER earned a win on Wednesday, but not exactly the way that he wanted his first Olympic performance to turn out. "I am not very happy," said TARVER. " It wasn't the performance that I had anticipated. I came out and I tried to box and it just wasn't there for me."

TARVER has been praised for his 1995 successes. Along the way he has picked up a lot of supporting fans. But Wednesday, before a home crowd of 9,000 fans, TARVER was booed.

"I do not even really notice the fans," said TARVER. I appreciate all of the support that the fans give me, but I can't let that affect what I do in the ring. I know that there are some fans out there that I need to get back, though."

U.S. head coach Al MITCHELL contributes TARVER'S performance to the intense srutinization and pressure of being a gold medal favorite.

"I thought that his performance was lousy," said MITCHELL. "But last night I thought it was going to be that way. When you have 50 million people telling you that you are going to get the gold, you have a lot of pressure.

TARVER acknowledged the pressure but did not use it as an excuse for his performance.

"Every athlete in this game has the same amount of pressure on them because everyone has that dream," said TARVER. "In my heart I feel that I have the capabilities to win a gold medal. I also know that I have to perform a lot better to achieve that goal."

For now TARVER says, "We're going back to the drawing board. Every night is a gold medal round and that is how I m looking at it."

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Shilpa Bakre


Return to Olympic News Menu

Select another day:
Pre July 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 August 1 2 3 4 Post


Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).