| PAAVO | Gold medalist Nurmi of the 1920, '24 and '28 Olympics |
| LOEW | 1920-24 owner of Metro Pictures |
| USA | '28 Olympics host |
| MAILA | Ms. Nurmi of "Plan 9 from Outer Space" (1959) |
| NICHROME | An alloy of atomic numbers 24 and 28, used as a heating element in hairdryers, ovens and toasters (8) |
| KILLERSOF | With 24- and 28-Across, 2023 film directed by Martin Scorsese |
| EDITH | Wharton, author of the 1920 novel The Age of Innocence (5) |
| BIGBILLTILDEN | Nickname of the winner of the 1920, 1921 and 1930 Wimbledon men's singles |
| KETELBEY | English composer of the 1920 classical piece In a Persian Market (8) |
| HAMSUN | Knut ?, Norwegian recipient of the 1920 Nobel Prize in Literature |
| NERNST | Walther, winner of the 1920 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (6) |
| BENSON | E.F., British author of the 1920 novel Queen Lucia (6) |
| ODOUL | Lefty of the 1920 Yankees |
| HOUDINI | Author of the 1920 book 'Miracle Mongers and Their Methods' |
| ALBERTHILL | British runner who won the 800m and 1500m at the 1920 Olympics |
| STRAVINSKY | Igor ___, composer of the 1920 ballet Pulcinella (10) |
| FINN | The Flying ___, nickname of the runner Paavo Nurmi (4) |
| GUBGUB | Pig in the 1920 children's book The Story of Doctor Dolittle (3-3) |
| FLYINGFINN | Nickname of Paavo Nurmi, winner of 12 Olympic distance running medals (6,4) |
| FINISH | Sounding like Paavo Nurmi at the end of a race (6) |
