[2] Nearly half of the Costa Rican roster had competed in London 2012, with sprinter Nery Brenes leading the athletes as the most experienced member and the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony at his third Games.

[1] For the fourth consecutive time, Costa Rica left Rio de Janeiro without a single Olympic medal.

Unable to reach the final, Brenes was the only athlete to produce a best finish for the Costa Rican squad at the Games, placing sixth each in the semifinal heat of both the men's 200 and 400 metres.

Miguel Murillo earned a continental quota spot from the Pan American region as highest-ranked Costa Rican judoka outside of direct qualifying position in the IJF World Ranking List of 30 May 2016.

London 2012 Olympian Leonardo Chacón was ranked among the top 40 eligible triathletes in the men's event based on the ITU Olympic Qualification List as of 15 May 2016.