Just under a third of clients described their strategy as "a marathon" when asked by Barclays Stockbrokers to liken their investment approach to the Olympic Games, which are currently taking place in London.

Slightly more, 34 per cent, compared their approach to investment to a heptathlon - i.e. utilising a long-term strategy which is underpinned by several different approaches.  

Sixteen per cent opted to describe their investment strategy as the hurdles, saying that in the present environment they are concentrating on short-term obstacles.

Fewer than one in ten went for the 100 metre sprint option, carrying the "spot investment opportunities and react with speed" description.

“It comes as no surprise that investors are taking a long-term approach to their investment strategy in the search for returns," said Paul Inkster, head of products at Barclays Stockbrokers. "Particularly in times of challenging market conditions, our clients see the importance of keeping long-term goals in mind to ensure that their investment portfolio has the breadth to deliver returns and protect against short-term volatility."

Separately, when asked about which of the recent hosts of the Olympic Games have offered the best investment returns, over half opted for the UK. China, home to the Games in 2008, trailed the UK with 16 per cent, while the US, which hosted the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, came in third with 14 per cent.

The UK stockbroker polled around 700 clients for the first question and around 500 for the second between 20 and 30 July.