Before the Industrial Revolution could most common people swim?

by ViKingCB

I was watching a documentary on Netflix called Myths and Monsters. In the first episode one of the experts they’ve interviewed stated that before the Industrial Revolution people did not know how to swim, but she provided no source. Is there any evidence to back up her claim or to dismiss it?

Elphinstone1842

You might be interested in this post by u/mikedash that discusses this.