The 2016 South American Under-23 Championships in Athletics was the seventh edition of the biennial track and field competition for South American athletes aged under 23 years old, organised by CONSUDATLE.

The tournament was held in Lima, Peru at the Villa Deportiva Nacional between 23 and 25 September.

Brazil was the dominant nation, winning 19 gold medals in its haul of 33.

Three other athletes won two individual gold medals, all of them women; María Pía Fernández took a middle-distance double for Uruguay, while Claudine Gimenes won a horizontal jumps double and Izabela da Silva a shot/discus double for Brazil.

[2] Venezuela declined to participate as a result of the Venezuelan economic cris.