Unless your name is Rebecca Adlington , Victoria Pendleton or Mo Farah , sport is probably nothing more than an enjoyable hobby . Now a new study has revealed that your choice of sport says more about you than you could possibly have imagined . According researchers , cyclists are more likely to be emotionally stable , runners the most extrovert and swimmers the happiest , while walkers are the least materialistic . Scroll down for video . Happiest : Swimmers such as Rebecca Adlington are happier - and tidier - than most . Best for romance : According to the research , swimmers make the best lovers . The psychological study , which was carried out by experts Mindlab , also revealed that sport can also offer clues to a person 's attitude to charity , reading habits and even their voting intentions . Cyclists , for instance , are most likely to vote Liberal Democrat and tend to be laid back and calm , if keen on acquiring material possessions . Meanwhile runners tend to be Labour-voting extroverts who love being the centre of attention and have a penchant for upbeat dance music . Those who swim tend to make the best lovers , are tidy and are also the most charitable , although according to Mindlab , 61 per cent of adults are fond of charity regardless of their choice of sport . Walkers , a category that includes those who enjoy rambling , orienteering and trekking , are least concerned about material possessions and like their own company . 'It has long been known that exercise is not only good for your body , but also your mind , ' comments neuropsychologist , Dr David Lewis . Extrovert : Runners such as Mo Farah tend to be extroverts with a taste for upbeat music . The research claims cyclists love shopping and vote Liberal Democrat . 'Past research has shown that exercising can act as a mood-enhancer , can be used to treat and possibly even prevent anxiety and generally has a positive effect on mental health . 'The results from this study show that no matter what kind of person you are , there is the right kind of exercise for everyone . ' The study , which was commissioned by the British Heart Foundation to mark the launch of its 2015 series of events , also found that favourite sports vary by area . Thus in Birmingham and London , cycling is the sport of choice for most while running wins the race in Leeds and Newcastle . Swimming was most popular in Cardiff , Dublin and Manchester , while walking was most loved in Bristol , Glasgow , Norwich and Nottingham . Peaceful : Those who love walking tend to enjoy their own company and are least materialistic . Supporters : Pippa Middleton ( left ) and heptathlete Louise Hazel ( right ) are high profile BHF supporters . The British Heart Foundation is famous for its sporty fundraisers and will once again stage the London to Brighton bike race this June . Pippa Middleton , one of the charity 's best-known supporters , is set to take part , as will Olympic heptathlete Louise Hazel . 'Whatever your sports personality or level of fitness , I would encourage everyone to sign up to a BHF event , ' said Hazel . 'Heart disease devastates too many lives , killing around 80,000 people every year . I lost my father to heart disease , he was just 50 years old . This is why I ’ m taking on a cycling challenge for BHF . 'Taking on a challenge can help you to get fit , enjoy the sport you love and also help to raise funds for vital research which could help save more people like my dad . ' CYCLISTS ... WALKERS ... RUNNERS ... SWIMMERS ...
Swimmers are tidy , happy and good in bed according to new research . Cyclists are Liberal Democrat voters who enjoy a shopping trip . Walkers are the least materialistic and are happy spending time alone . The study was carried out by researchers at Cardiff University and published today in the journal Social Science & Medicine.