What happens if two athletes finish on the same points?
I · Intermediate · The events and the points · 1 of 7Athletes who finish with the same total of points share the place. The rule says that an equal number of points for any place is a tie. There is no tie-break on events won, on the last event or on any single performance, and it applies to first place as well.
How it works
- The rule: if two or more athletes "achieve an equal number of points for any place in the competition, it shall be determined as a tie".
- Any place: the rule makes no exception for first place.
- Nothing is compared: events won and head-to-head results are not looked at.
- During the competition: a tie on the running total after an event is only a position on the scoreboard. It matters at the end.
Tricky cases
Two decathletes finish level. One beat the other in six of the ten events. Is that athlete placed higher?
No. Equal points is a tie.
Is the tie decided by who ran faster in the final event?
No. Nothing in the rule gives the last event extra weight.
Can two athletes share a combined events gold medal?
Yes. A tie for first place is a tie like any other.
Why the rule exists
The points total already takes in every performance of both athletes. Any tie-break would have to count one of those performances twice, which would favour one kind of athlete over another.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 39.12 |
| High jump and pole vault inside a combined event | No jump-off. Each athlete scores for the height cleared | TR 26.8.4 (note) |
| Long jump and throws on their own | The second-best performance breaks a tie | TR 25.22 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rule 39.12. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).