eli5: In competitions where there is a tie for a specific rank, such as when two participants share the first position, why is the subsequent rank is typically skipped?

Question

eli5: In competitions where there is a tie for a specific rank, such as when two participants share the first position, why is the subsequent rank is typically skipped?

In: 4

Answer 1

OK lets use your example, two participants tie for first place.

Now consider the next best person after that. They are the 3rd best person in the contest, since 2 people finished with a better result, so it makes sense for them to come 3rd.

Put another way: yes Bob’s score was the 2nd best score, but 2 people got a better score so Bob’s the 3rd best participant. So he comes 3rd.