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

Because that is their true rank, based on the number of people/teams above them.

Say three people are playing a game. Alice and Bob score 100 points, and Cody scores 80. Cody has the third highest score, so he is ranked third despite no one being in second.