ABSTRACT The primary objective of this mixed-methods study was to identify and comprehensively understand the motives that drive trans people to engage in leisure-time physical activities and sports (LTPAS). In the quantitative phase, face-to-face surveys were administered to 155 Spanish trans persons [64 women (TW), 84 men (TM), and 7 non-conforming binary gender participants (NBG)]. The qualitative phase included 43 semi-structured interviews (21 TW, 17 TM, and 5 NBG). The fieldwork was carried out between 2012 and 2015. The most prominent motive was ‘to do physical exercise’ while the least important was ‘to enjoy competing’. TM and NBG persons expressed higher levels than TW in motives such as ‘to reaffirm my gender identity’, ‘to do physical exercise’, ‘to enjoy doing sport’, and ‘to increase my musculature’. Additional extrinsic (‘appearance and body image’) and intrinsic motives (‘pleasure of body exertion’) were identified in the qualitative phase. Extrinsic and the relationship between intrinsic-extrinsic motives highlight the importance of gender reaffirming embodiment among the participants. These findings have the potential to raise awareness and sensitise professionals, policymakers, and society at large to promote greater involvement and more fulfilling experiences for trans persons in LTPAS.