Quirkology teamed up with fitness expert Sam Murphy to explore the relationship between sport and attraction. Are men more impressed by women who play football or climb mountains? Do women go for body builders or yoga fanatics?

The work involved over 6000 people indicating which sporting activities would make a member of the opposite sex more attractive. Results revealed that 57% of women found climbing attractive, making it the sexiest sport from a female perspective. This was closely followed by extreme sports (56%), football (52%), and hiking (51%). Bottom of their list came aerobics and golf, with just 9% and 13% of the vote respectively.

In contrast, men were most attracted to women into aerobics (70%), followed by yoga (65%), and going to the gym (64%). Bottom of their list came bodybuilding (5%), rugby (6%), and golf (18%).

Women’s choices appear to reflect the type of psychological qualities that they find attractive – such as bravery and a willingness to take on challenges - whilst men are more shallow, looking for a woman who is physically fit but not challenging their ego by being overly strong.

The findings also reveal that both men and women have little insight into what sports the opposite sex find attractive. 56% of men believe that women are attracted to male bodybuilders, whereas only 19% actually are. Likewise, 73% of women think that men find female runners attractive, whereas in reality 55% do.

'Our findings suggest that women who've been pounding the pavements in search of love would do better taking up aerobics, while men seeking women need to ditch the weights and get on the climbing wall,' said Murphy. 'That said, the best way to find happiness - not to mention a long-lasting fitness regime - is to do what you love. Unless, that is, it's golf!'


Full results
Everyone was asked to indicate whether they would find a member of the opposite sex more attractive if they engaged in one of 15 sporting/physical activities (response options ‘yes’, ‘uncertain’, and ‘no’). The percentage of men giving the ‘yes’ option to each option is as follows:

Men		Woman
Bodybuilding	5	Aerobics	9
Rugby	6	Golf	13
Golf	18	Bodybuilding	19
Rowing	20	Yoga/Pilates	20
Football (soccer)	30	Cycling	37
Extreme sports	32	Rowing	43
Martial arts	35	Martial arts	44
Cycling	39	Rugby	44
Climbing	41	Running	44
Hiking	41	Skiing	46
Skiing	53	Going to the gym	50
Running	55	Hiking	51
Going to the gym	64	Football (soccer)	52
Yoga/Pilates	65	Extreme sports	56
Aerobics	70	Climbing	57