As ski jumpers prepare to launch themselves from towering alpine ramps for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, a little piece of Chicago history offers a reminder that mountains, while helpful, have never been strictly required for ski jumping.

Sweden just barely came out on top against the United States in a golden jump-off for the Olympic team show jumping title. Both teams were knotted at one rail down each after the main round of competition, and the final headed into a heated jump-off for gold.

Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor and has been writing about health, fitness, and science here since 2015. Beth was the recipient of the 2017 Carnegie Science Award in science communication, and has written two books: Outbreak!