Can someone start at 31 with the intent to compete?

I trained with John Davis, a swimmer in the UK who didn’t learn to swim until the age of 55, When he was in the 80-84 age group he went to Australia for the world masters championships and won the 400 IM. So it can be done. Admittedly, it helps if you can outlive your opponets in the older age groups.

I trained with John Davis, a swimmer in the UK who didn’t learn to swim until the age of 55, When he was in the 80-84 age group he went to Australia for the world masters championships and won the 400 IM. So it can be done. Admittedly, it helps if you can outlive your opponets in the older age groups.