On Swimming

“Kjartan then dived out into the river and swam over to the man who was such a strong swimmer, pushed him underwater and held him down for some time, before letting him come up again. The other had not been above water long before he grasped Kjartan and forced him underwater and held him under so long that Kjartan felt enough was enough. They both emerged once more, but neither spoke to the other. On the third try both of them went underwater and were under much longer. Kjartan was far from certain what the outcome would be and realised that he had never before been in such a tight situation. Finally both of them came up and swam ashore.” The Saga of the People of Laxardal, Ch. 40

Today’s offering is less a moral lesson than an adjunct to our Indigenous Ability offering on the importance given by warriors to aquatic ability.

The above “swimming” competition, which is more akin to mettle-testing ala the Navy SEALs’ drown-proofing training, is one of many examples of such practices in the sagas.

This competition is between Kjartan Olafsson and King Olaf Tryggvason.

There is a threefold lesson here in that…

ONE-Leaders were also warriors who were doers. They led from the front and participated in all. [Imagine any of today’s doughy tough-talkers doing anything more rigorous than a round of golf or twittery-trash talk.]

TWO-King Olaf does not reveal his identity until after the competition as he seeks no unfair advantage from an opponent going “light” out of deference.

THREE-It is the better part of wisdom to possess confidence and well-tested ability in whatever medium you may find yourself.

King Olaf is a doer who walks his talk and prefers walking the walk as all who fight with him do and desires no special privilege that he does not earn.

"Megum við öll vera göfugir, sem ganga meira en að tala og synda vel, hvort vötnin okkar séu raunveruleg eða metaforísk."

“May we all be noble doers who walk more than talk and swim well whether our waters be real or metaphorical.”