| 100% | THORPE | 6 | 32-Across' Australian rival Ian, who failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics |
| 43% | REPECHAGE | 9 | Special heat in rowing allowing participants who fail to qualify automatically for the next round to race again |
| 37% | LOCHTE | 6 | Ryan who was 32-Across' main American rival in the 2012 Olympics |
| 32% | MISSTHECUT | 10 | Fail to qualify, as for a team |
| 31% | DONOR | 5 | One of 130,000 needed to qualify for the next Democratic debate |
| 30% | GEOFFREYRUSH | 12 | "Shine" star who was the first Australian to be nominated for Oscars in two acting categories (2 wds.) |
| 30% | REVERENDSPOONER | 15 | Who to blame for the spoilage |
| 29% | DRAWABLANK | 10 | Fail to think of anything . . . or a crossword clue for the first word of 17-, 25-, 39-, or 49-Across |
| 28% | ETE | 3 | Season for the 2024 Olympics, to locals |
| 28% | WIE | 3 | Golfer Michelle who was the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship |
| 28% | COE | 3 | Runner who ran the 2012 Olympics |
| 28% | DAVID | 5 | ___ Rudisha, athlete who set a record for the 800 meters at the 2012 London Olympics |
| 28% | THORPE | 6 | Swimmer Ian who won three gold medals in the 2000 Olympics |
| 28% | BRISBANE | 8 | Australian city chosen to host the 2032 Summer Olympics |
| 28% | MELBOURNE | 9 | First Australian city to host the Olympics |
| 27% | GWENJORGENSEN | 13 | American distance runner and two-time ITU World Champion who was the first to win a triathlon gold for USA in the Olympics: 2 wds. |
| 27% | OHARE | 5 | Destination for the van that Kevin fails to board in "Home Alone" |
| 27% | CAIN | 4 | Herman who ran for the 2012 Republican nomination |
| 27% | BEY | 3 | Queen ___ (nickname for the artist who has won a record 32 Grammy Awards) |
| 27% | BETSYDEVOS | 10 | Secretary of Education who three times tried (and failed) to cut Special Olympics funding from the department's budget |
| 27% | SOSA | 4 | Player who failed to lead the league in all three seasons in which he hit 60+ home runs |
| 27% | TIGHTWAD | 8 | Slang for someone who fails to open their wallet |
| 27% | MGR | 3 | Guy who might signal to the bullpen, for short |
| 27% | EMTS | 4 | Those who may respond to the unresponsive, for short |
| 26% | MISSINGTHECUT | 13 | Failing to qualify |
| 26% | NEOCONS | 7 | People who have moved to the political right, for short |
| 26% | LONDON | 6 | 2012 Olympics locale, with a hint to the ends of the answers to the six starred clues |
| 26% | LONDON | 6 | 2012 Olympics venue where James Harden won the gold medal for the US men's basketball team |
| 26% | HIRABLE | 7 | Qualified for the job |
| 26% | ABLE | 4 | Qualified for the job |