[1] In addition to the seven Championship records which were broken during the three-day event, two South American records were broken: Keila Costa jumped 14.57 m in the women's triple jump.

In comparison, Fábio Gomes da Silva broke the men's pole vault record with a clearance of 5.77 m.[1][2][3] A total of thirteen national records in athletics were broken by medal winning athletes.

Germán Lauro won both the men's shot put and discus throw events while Elisângela Adriano completed the same feat on the women's side.

[1][2] In one of the more dramatic moments of the championships, Rosibel García looked set to complete an 800/1500 metres double but she fell in the last 50 m of the 800 m race, allowing 1500 m silver medallist Marian Burnett of Guyana to win the gold.

[3] *   Host nation (Brazil)According to an unofficial count, at least 249 athletes from 13 countries participated.