| 100% | REDGRAVE | 8 | Rower with 5 Olympic golds and a knighthood |
| 44% | HOPE | 4 | Goalie Solo who won two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup championship with the U.S. national soccer team |
| 43% | BOBBRYAN | 8 | Tennis player who won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles and a 2012 Olympic gold medal with his twin brother, Mike: 2 wds. |
| 42% | HOPESOLO | 8 | Soccer star with two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title born July 30, 1981 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | KRISTIYAMAGUCHI | 15 | Olympic gold medalist who was a "Dancing With the Stars" champion |
| 39% | TEAMUSA | 7 | Olympic group with a red, white and blue insignia |
| 37% | KUTS | 4 | Vladimir —, 1956 Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist |
| 37% | FARAH | 5 | Mo —, 2012 Olympic 5,000 and 10,000m gold medallist |
| 37% | BABAR | 5 | Kid-lit character with a green suit and gold crown |
| 36% | WEST | 4 | With 7- and 5-Across, 2021 film remake of a classic 1957 musical |
| 36% | MOFARAH | 7 | 2012 Olympic men's 5,000 and 10,000m gold medallist |
| 36% | FARAH | 5 | Mo —, 2012 Olympic men's 5,000 and 10,000m gold medallist |
| 35% | BABEZAHARIAS | 12 | Golf great with Olympic golds in hurdles and javelin |
| 35% | LOUGANIS | 8 | Olympic diver Greg who was adopted as a baby and recently reunited with his biological father |
| 34% | DROP | 4 | With 5-Down and 2-Down, mess up at a critical moment ... or participate in a New Year's Eve tradition? |
| 34% | MICHAELSPINKS | 13 | 1976 Olympic middleweight gold medalist who was a world light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion: 2 wds. |
| 33% | LISALESLIE | 10 | Basketball star with four Olympic gold medals and two WNBA titles born July 7, 1972 (2 wds.) |
| 33% | WOOSNAM | 7 | Max —, England and Manchester City defender; 1920 Olympic men's doubles tennis gold medallist with Noel Turnbull |
| 33% | GRAHAM | 6 | With 5-Down, a TV gourmet |
| 33% | LOSE | 4 | With 5-Across, blow a fuse |
| 33% | LOVE | 4 | With 5-Down, many a ballad |
| 33% | ALLYSONFELIX | 12 | Sprinter who has won six Olympic gold medals in the 4x100 and 4x400 relay with the United States national team (2 wds.) |
| 32% | WAMBACH | 7 | Two-time Olympic gold and World Cup winner Abby |
| 32% | ONCE | 4 | With 5- and 6-Across, storybook beginning |
| 32% | PORTO | 5 | With 5-Across, a Caribbean island, formerly |
| 32% | HAD | 3 | With 5-Down, ate a bit of |
| 32% | AMYVANDYKEN | 11 | American former swimmer who shares the second spot for most number of Olympic gold medals for a female swimmer with 17a: 3 wds. |
| 32% | MICHAELPHELPS | 13 | Swimmer with a record 18 Olympic gold medals: 2 wds. |
| 32% | PAMSHRIVER | 10 | Tennis star with an Olympic gold medal and 21 Grand Slam doubles titles born July 4, 1962 (2 wds.) |
| 32% | JORDANLARSON | 12 | Volleyball player who has won Olympic bronze, silver, and gold medals with the United States national team (2 wds.) |