Javelin, Swimming and Wrestling
Javelin Throwing
Javelin throwing was a very important sport for the Vikings. To be able to throw a javelin or spear you had to have great strength and accuracy. Being a good javelin thrower was just as important to a Viking as being a good archer. At a young age Vikings started to practice their javelin skills. Throwing a javelin at a target became a people’s sport. You had to be able to throw with two hands in case of injury. It was very important to throw a javelin or spear a long distance so you could throw out over your own soldiers. 

Jamie Hayes
 
Viking swimming
The breaststroke was a preferred Viking method. Most of them learned to swim as a child. To strengthen the leg stroke they often swam with weights on their backs. They had competitions in swimming. The most common competitions were water wrestling, distance swimming and speed swimming. Water wrestling was a wrestling match in the water. They had to keep the opponent’s head under the water until he gave up. These matches often lasted for hours and were the most popular form of swimming competitions. Distance swimming started at the beach and they swam out towards the open sea. They would turn around when they didn’t dare go further. The last one to turn was the winner. The goal of speed swimming was to be the first one across the finish line. 

By Amanda Grehan.
 
Viking Wrestling
During the Viking era wrestling was the most widespread sport. It was practised everywhere. Woman also practised wrestling. Wrestling played a huge part in society. Thor was the god of wrestling. There was even a book of rules called the Gragas. There were three types of wrestling;Glima wrestling, Free-style wrestling and Crude wrestling. In Glima and Free-style wrestling swift tricks were used to pin your opponent down. Boys usually started training at about seven or eight years of age and kept going until they got too old. Crude wrestling was wild and the participants were also crazy. If you could not pin down your opponent an easy way to win was to chop their legs off!

By Siobhán Campbell. 
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