Aussies are sport legends, so they think

Are you a sporting legend? Most Australians reckon they are.

Far from being modest, more than half of all Aussies (55 per cent) rate themselves as elite or good when they step onto the sporting field, according to a new report.

But despite the candour, most prefer to go it alone, with traditional Australian pastimes cricket, AFL and rugby league all failing to crack the top five as the nation's most-played sports, the Asteron Life report released on Friday reveals.

The top honour belongs to swimming, followed by other individual endeavours - gym workouts, running, tennis and cycling.

Asteron Life executive manager Mark Vilo says sport is a part of Australia's DNA, with more than half of all Australians valuing it as a very or extremely important part of their lives.

"However, it seems we are becoming a nation of solitary participants with swimming, running and the gym now eclipsing traditional team activities," he said.

But when it comes to watching sport, the results reverse.

Cricket surges to top spot, with AFL, rugby league and football (soccer) next on the list.

"Two in three of use actively watch sport on a regular basis, with one in 10 even admitting to wagging work to watch sport, with an astonishing one in five Gen Ys having done so," Mr Vilo said.

The results were drawn from a sample size of 1004 Australians.

AUSTRALIA'S MOST-PARTICIPATED SPORTS

1 - Swimming 24 pct

2 - Gym 20 pct

3 - Running 20 pct

4 - Tennis 20 pct

5 - Cycling 18 pct

6 - Football (soccer) 15 pct

7 - Cricket 14 pct

8 - Golf 13 pct

9 - Basketball 11 pct

10 - AFL 8 pct

11 - Netball 7 pct

12 - Rugby league 6 pct

AUSTRALIA'S MOST-WATCHED SPORTS

1 - Cricket 52 pct

2 - AFL 49 pct

3 - Rugby league 39 pct

4 - Football (soccer) 32 pct

5 - Swimming 26 pct

6 - Rugby union 22 pct

7 - Golf 18 pct

8 - Basketball 15 pct

9 - Cycling 14 pct

10 - Motor sports 13 pct

11 - Netball 12 pct

12 - Snow sports 9 pct

Source: Asteron Life Live, Love Sport report