The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between student level of attraction to physical activity and academic performance, and the association between attraction to physical activity and grades in the subjects of Maths, Spanish Language, and Physical Education according to gender, after adjusting for age and body mass index, in a sample of Spanish adolescents. The study included 1009 12-18 year-old students (579 girls).t. The Children’s Attraction to Physical Activity questionnaire and numeric marks in the subjects were used. Analyses showed that enjoyment with vigorous physical activity is the main attraction factor related to higher grades in Maths and Spanish Language among girls. Among boys, enjoyment of games and sports, and vigorous physical activity is observed to have no impact on academic performance. However, lower grades were observed in Maths and Spanish Language among boys who give great importance to physical activity. Therefore, it is suggested that the well-known physical activity-academic performance relationship must take into account physical activity attraction factors, as they may well have some impact on academic performance according to gender. (c) 2015 Fundacion Universitaria Konrad Lorenz. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.