can someone help me and tell me the steps plzz

Answer:
C
Step-by-step explanation:
The actual answer would be 21 because 8 people can qualify for first place and after only 7 for second place because someone already got first, then for third place only 6 would qualify but, here the only reasonable answer would be 24 because maybe all 8 people can qualify for first, second, and third, which would make no sense.