The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word PACE-SETTERS
P
A
C
E
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S
E
T
T
E
R
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "athletic types" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case athletic types = pace-setters.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 PACE-SETTERS mean?
PACE-SETTERS noun- A person who determines the rate of action through leading.