| Host City | Rio de Janeiro |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Held | 15 – 18 October 1981 |
| Competitors | 106 |
| Countries | 6 |
| Event | Gender | Held | Status | Competitors | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 200 m | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 400 m | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| 800 m | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 1,500 m | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| 5,000 m | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 110 m Hurdles | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 400 m Hurdles | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 2,000 m Steeplechase | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 4 x 100 m Relay | Men | — | Medal | 12 | 3 |
| 4 x 400 m Relay | Men | — | Medal | 12 | 3 |
| High Jump | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| Pole Vault | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Long Jump | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| Triple Jump | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Shot Put | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| Discus Throw | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| Hammer Throw | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| Javelin Throw | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Decathlon | Men | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 100 m | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| 200 m | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| 400 m | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 800 m | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 1,500 m | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| 3,000 m | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| 100 m Hurdles | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| 200 m Hurdles | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| 4 x 100 m Relay | Women | — | Medal | 12 | 3 |
| 4 x 400 m Relay | Women | — | Medal | 12 | 3 |
| High Jump | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 2 |
| Long Jump | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Shot Put | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Discus Throw | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Javelin Throw | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Heptathlon | Women | — | Medal | 3 | 3 |
| Pos | Country | 🥇 Gold | 🥈 Silver | 🥉 Bronze | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 17 | 9 | 7 | 33 | |
| 2 | Argentina | 10 | 11 | 7 | 28 | |
| 3 | Venezuela | 4 | 8 | 6 | 18 | |
| 4 | Chile | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | |
| 5 | Colombia | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 6 | Uruguay | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | |