The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ATHLETES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
T
H
L
E
T
E
S
More clues leading to the result ATHLETES
- Area rented in the south for people having events
- Ethel’s at ground for sporty types
- Almost all these trained to keep fit, ultimately sportspeople
- Herath let Eskinazi reveal sportspeople
- They’re on track to win
- The tales bandied about by sportsmen
- Who will be allowed in running heats?
- Sportsmen allowed to participate in running heats
- Steel hat designed for runners, for example
- The least ridiculous kind of foot?
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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ATHLETES mean?
ATHLETES noun- A participant in a group of sporting activities which includes track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.
- A person who actively participates in physical sports, especially with great skill; a sportsperson.
- An exceptionally physically fit person.