When you apply a Top filter to a dashboard visualisation a DENSE RANK filter is applied.  

I think the majority of ranking that people are used to is Olympic Ranking. Is there any way to change dashboards from DENSE to normal ranking?  I know I can create my own calc and filter, but would prefer the GUI to apply olympic ranking.

Within reporting the default ranking is olympic so it seems strange that the two are at odds with each other. You would think there would be a standard default ranking type used by all components. Alas not!

Within reporting you have to specify rank distinct.