South American Games

The South American Games (also known as ODESUR Games) is a regional multi-sport event held between South American nations. The event organized by the ODESUR (South American Sports Organization - Organización Deportiva Sudamericana)

The first Games were held in 1978 in La Paz, Bolivia under the name of Juegos Cruz del Sur) and since have been held every four years. 2002 edition organized with South American U20 Champs, nearly same medals distributed in both events. Similarly, 2006 and 2010 editions have been held during South American U23 Championships as well. 

Brazil and Colombia, two of the largest countries in the continent, had not been part of South American Games until 1994 - even previously their individuals took part in some events. The Games were hosted in high altitude cities for the four times, including the inaugural edition in Bolivia, thus effects sprints and jumping events positively. 

Despite lack of being high-quality contest in the past, South American Games athletics competition level is rising in the last two editions by breaking lots of championship records.

PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS

Nations contested in all 12 editions: ARG, BOL, CHI, ECU, PAR, PER, URU

>> Colombia 9, Brazil 7, Suriname 7, Guyana 7, Netherland Antilles 3, Aruba 3, Panama 3, Curaçao 1.

1978 Cochabamba: (7) ARG, BOL, CHI, ECU, PAR, PER, URU

1982 Santa Fe: (8) ARG, BOL, CHI, COL, ECU, PAR, PER, URU

1986 Santiago: (7) ARG, BOL, CHI, ECU, PAR, PER, URU

1990 Lima: (9) ARG, BOL, CHI, ECU, PAR, PER, SUR, URU, VEN

1994 Valencia: (13) AHO, ARU, ARG, BRA, BOL, COL, CHI, ECU, PAR, PER, SUR, URU, VEN

1998 Cuenca: (11) ARG, BOL, CHI, COL, ECU, GUY, PAR, PER, SUR, URU, VEN

2002 Belem: (12) AHO, ARG, BRA, BOL, CHI, COL, ECU, GUY, PAR, PER, URU, VEN

2006 Buenos Aires: (11) ARG, BOL, BRA, CHI, COL, ECU, GUY, PAR, PER, URU, VEN

2010 Medellin: (13) AHO, ARG, BOL, BRA, CHI, COL, ECU, GUY, PAR, PER, SUR URU, VEN

2014 Santiago: (14) ARU, ARG, BOL, BRA, CHI, COL, ECU, GUY, PAN, PAR, PER, SUR, URU, VEN 

2018 Cochabamba: (14) ARU, ARG, BOL, BRA, CHI, COL, ECU, GUY, PAN, PAR, PER, SUR, URU, VEN 

2022 Asuncion: (14) ARG, BOL, BRA, CHI, COL, CUW, ECU, GUY, PAN, PAR, PER, SUR, URU, VEN

MOST SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES

8-1-0 Luiz Alberto Schneider, Chile

6-1-0 Pablo Squella, Chile

6-1-0 Francisco Pichott, Chile

5-2-0 Felipa Palacios, Colombia

5-0-0 Muriel Coneo, Colombia

OLDEST ACTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD

Men's 5000m: Omar Aguilar (CHI), 14:05.56 in Santiago 1986

Women's 400m: Ximena Restrepo (COL), 51.31 in Valencia 1994

Women's 800m: Luciana Mendes (BRA), 2:01.99 in Valencia 1994

LONGEST STREAKS BY A COUNTRY

7 Argentina in Men's HT (1978-2002)

5 Chile in Men's 4x400m (1978-1994)

5 Chile in Men's SP (1982-1998)

4 Chile in Men's 400m (1978-1990)

4 Chile in Men's 3000SC (1982-1994)

4 Argentina in Men's HJ (1978-1990)

4 Brazil in Men's Decathlon (2002-2014)

BACK TO BACK TITLES

3 Natalia Duco (CHI) in SP (2006, 2010, 2014)*

3 Victor Fatecha (PAR) in JT (2006, 2010, 2014)

3 Andres Charadia (ARG) in HT (1986, 1990, 1994)

3 Augusto Dutra (BRA) in PV (2010, 2014, 2018)

3 Deborah Rodriguez (URU) in 800m (2014, 2018, 2022)

(*) Duco's fourth successive gold medal in 2018 dropped after doping case.

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Stats by Athleticspodium.com / Contributor of this section: Luis Vinkler (ARG)