| CALLEDTHESHOTS | Before her strokes, she... |
| DROPPEDTHEBALL | And after every stroke, she successfully... |
| FREESTYLE | Event where a swimmer may choose his or her stroke (9) |
| WIE | She turned pro before her 16th birthday |
| LAURA | Popular first lady, she was a teacher and librarian before her marriage to George Bush Jr |
| STUART | Family name of Mary, Queen of Scots who was confined for 19 years by her cousin Elizabeth I before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle (6) |
| SILLS | "You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." She was an American operatic soprano who won international fame many years before her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1975, at a |
| KAT | ___ Slater, she knew about Albie Watts' paternity before her husband did in EastEnders (3) |
| EURYDICE | Oak dryad killed by a viper bite before her near rescue from Hades by her husband Orpheus and his lyre (8) |
| COX | Actress Courteney, before her marriage |
| IRISH | Nationality of Murdoch before her end? (5) |
| RUTH | Judges before her? Pity |
| COWER | In fear, crouch lower before Her Majesty (5) |
| USHER | Kind of escort puts us before her (5) |
| MARINE | Bea Arthur was one before her acting career |
| SHE | Word before her in email signatures |
| TROUSSEAU | Clothing a bride assembles before her marriage (9) |
| LIFE | Our star's drama, The ... Before Her Eyes |
| NERDY | Like Sandy in "Grease," before her transformation |
| VEILED | In purdah, like Salome before her dance (6) |
