No, not late. And since you are novice, remember the rule: do not ask stupid questions here, better solve more problems.

if you like it then just start it you don't even need to ask us and even if someone says no it should not discourage you from doing something you like good luck in your journey

CP is illegal in most countries, please consider another hobby

Hadn't you started it more then 2 years ago?

Imagine someone worried about being late to start running/cycling/dancing/drawing/whatever as a hobby, at X age.

By definition, hobbies are meant for pleasure, so there is no need to worry about time, worth or lateness, just try it out, if you like problem-solving it will be fun. 👍

I'm 26. will be 27 in a few months. I started late in my uni year. Dropped it because i flunked c in first year and thought i wasn't meant for computers. Picked up python, found it much easier. Joined atcoder solved bunch of easy problems too boost my ego. Came to codeforces again, to start afresh and will continue i guess till i don't get a life or nagging wife.

I am 167 yo. You're only 26 man come on just do it!

It's not too late. It's never too late.

If you wish you'd started earlier, then perhaps later you'll wish you've started now.

To start CP you only need passion for it age does not matter..

I started at 31.

Life is meaningless without problem solving. Start CP and get a meaning for life.

yes it is , so what , who cares ? doesn't it feel nice to do things that are not meant to be done.

I died at the age of 19 protecting my world. And here you're talking about CP? Of course you can start.

Me as an example, I am not even computer science major. I start CP at my age of 25, just one year before 26, and now I am 29, and I am Master level (maybe drop back to CM or expert sooner, but at least I have been master before).

I'm a software engineer as well, and had never spent much time at these kinds of coding problems before. Started CP a few months ago, at 38, and currently enjoying learning many things that I didn't have the chance or was too lazy to learn when I was younger. Just have fun!

No, if you are enjoying it there is definitely no problem doing this as a hobby

In China we can see some questions like "Is 6 year old late to start CP?":)

Since humanity failed to reject femboys, the end of the world is coming. You should focus on spending the last few years with your friends and family before Earth explodes.

Yes it's too late. From age 20 your brain function declines, there is no sense in starting in CP anymore. Better consider starting a less mentally taxing hobby like knitting or painting mandalas.

you can start cycling/tennis/golf/soccer any time whenever you want

same applies to cp, but

you will never be pro, you will never catch up someone who start tennis at 12,

same applies to cp, so

as long as keep it as hobby, it's ok.

Just curious, when did you learn how to code and what language do you often use in your work?

I think it's all about perspective. If you put in effort and believe you can improve, it's extremely likely that you will. If you believe you're blocked by your age, then maybe you'll quit before you get the chance to improve.

Inspiration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_bloomer

I started in 19 (now I am also 26) and I found even that late.

But worth or not is a personal matter. What do you think you'd get away from CP?

If that was purely to enjoy the process and sharpening brain as you said, then sure, it's totally worth it. Think of it like every sport. Unless aimed for professional career, I think there is no "late" for activities with pure sportsmanship spirit.

I started at 33.

Tomorrow is always later than today.

I started at 23, it might be early but remember, I am not even from a science background! never studied any technical thing seriously in my entire life and took commerce as my stream in 12th standard(high school). anything is possible.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Chinese proverb

statistically yes,

you are probably top 4% oldest people on this site.

nearly half of red people is underage btw, and also 4/10 top 10 rated people is under 18

and this is my personal belief, I do think rating is inversely proportional to age with few exceptions like (tourist and some other LGM though every one of them were already at least GM level at the point when they were kids) because if you start late you need to spend more time but kids learn very very fast however you cannot afford time.

Age is just a number go ahead and enjoy the process

Yes because it's useless now