The 13th edition of the South American Games concluded with Argentina securing a historic second-place finish in the overall medal standings, as it hosted the multidisciplinary event for the first time in 20 years.
Competing on home soil, the Argentine delegation collected 293 total medals, including 81 gold, 87 silver, and 125 bronze preseas. Brazil finished atop the final standings with 312 total medals (122 gold, 107 silver, 83 bronze), while Colombia completed the podium in third place with 192 total medals (69 gold, 61 silver, 62 bronze). Chile finished fourth with 175 medals (49 gold), and Venezuela rounded out the top five with 146 total medals (48 gold).
In the previous four editions of the Games—held in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022—the country had been kept out of the top two positions.
Key Disciplines Fueling the Albiceleste Surge
Argentina’s historic result was built on broad-based success across water sports, combat events, and precision disciplines. Canotaje (canoeing) led the delegation with 10 gold medals, followed closely by swimming with 7 gold medals. Fencing, artistic gymnastics, and shooting added 5 gold medals each, while athletics, racquetball, and SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) contributed 4 gold medals apiece.
Individual standout performances anchored the collective effort. Swimmer Macarena Ceballos, artistic gymnast Julieta Lucas, and canoeists Agustín Vernice and Brenda Rojas captured four gold medals each. Meanwhile, 16-year-old swimmer Cecilia Dieleke emerged as the most prolific podium finisher for the delegation, collecting three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal across her events.
Final South American Games Medal Table
The definitive medal counts for all participating delegations at the conclusion of the 13th South American Games are as follows:
- 1. Brasil: 122 gold, 107 silver, 83 bronze (312 total)
- 2. Argentina: 81 gold, 87 silver, 125 bronze (293 total)
- 3. Colombia: 69 gold, 61 silver, 62 bronze (192 total)
- 4. Chile: 49 gold, 58 silver, 68 bronze (175 total)
- 5. Venezuela: 48 gold, 43 silver, 55 bronze (146 total)
- 6. Perú: 28 gold, 32 silver, 39 bronze (99 total)
- 7. Uruguay: 17 gold, 14 silver, 23 bronze (54 total)
- 8. Ecuador: 16 gold, 27 silver, 39 bronze (82 total)
- 9. Paraguay: 9 gold, 9 silver, 19 bronze (37 total)
- 10. Panamá: 5 gold, 3 silver, 8 bronze (16 total)
- 11. Bolivia: 3 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze (16 total)
- 12. Curazao: 1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze (2 total)
- 13. Aruba: 0 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze (4 total)
- 14. Guyana: 0 gold, 0 silver, 4 bronze (4 total)
- 15. Surinam: 0 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze (0 total)
Selected Gold Medal Highlights for Argentina
The host nation’s 81 gold medals came from a wide cross-section of individual and team sports:
- Pascual Di Tella (Fencing, individual sabre)
- Macarena Ceballos (Swimming, 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke)
- Cecilia Dieleke (Swimming, 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke)
- Joel Contreras (Cycling, mountain bike)
- Julieta Lucas (Artistic gymnastics, all-around and uneven bars)
- Fernanda Russo and Julián Gutiérrez (Shooting, 10m air rifle mixed team)
- Agustín Destribats (Wrestling, 65kg freestyle)
- Eugenia de Armas (Water skiing, wakeboard)
- Lucía Falasca (Sailing, ILCA 6 women’s)
- Selección Femenina (Handball)
- Las Yaguaretés (Rugby femenino)
- Los Pumas 7s (Rugby masculino)
- Los Leonas (Field hockey, men’s)
- Las Leonas (Field hockey, women’s)
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