What a finish! What a performance! Peru concludes the 2026 South American Games in Santa Fe with a historic result. Team Perú takes home 28 gold, 32 silver, and 39 bronze medals. That makes a total of: an incredible 99 medals!
And they kept collecting until the very last day of competition. On Saturday, September 26th, Peru made one final big push. Two gold medals and two silvers were added to the tally. This made it official: these South American Games will have a special place in Peruvian sports history.
TENNIS SMASH! Dana Guzmán wins gold
What a final from Dana Guzmán! The Peruvian gave her Argentine opponent Jazmín Ortenzi little room to breathe. Guzmán won the first set 6-0, and then clinched it with a 6-3 victory in the second set. Game, set, match, gold for Peru!
Of particular interest for northern Peru: Guzmán is from Piura and has lived in Arequipa since she was young. With her decisive final victory, she provided one of the major highlights to close out the 2026 South American Games.
GOLD! Peru’s squash team strikes, too
But Guzmán wasn't alone. Peru’s men's squash team also wanted to reach the top of the podium at the very end. Diego Elías, Alonso Escudero, Rafael Gálvez, and Thiago Cabrejos defeated Ecuador in the team final to secure the next gold medal for Peru.
For Diego Elías, it was already his next big success in Santa Fe. The Peruvian squash star had previously triumphed in the singles event, finishing the Games with two gold medals.
And suddenly it was 99!
The final day of competition brought Peru two more medals. Inés Castillo won silver in the women's badminton singles. In table tennis, Carlos Fernández, Felipe Duffoo, and Rodrigo Hidalgo also took silver in the team event.
This added four more medals on the final day. Two of them were gold, two silver—and with that, the historic total was set: 99 medals for Peru!
THE HISTORIC PERFORMANCE
Peru concludes the 2026 South American Games in Santa Fe with 28 gold medals, 32 silver medals, and 39 bronze medals. This brings Team Perú's total tally to 99 medals.
This places Peru in sixth place in the medal table. Ahead of the Peruvian team are Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Venezuela. Brazil dominated the Games with a total of 312 medals, hosts Argentina reached 293, and Colombia 192.
NEVER BEFORE HAS PERU BEEN THIS GOOD ABROAD!
Never before has Peru won more medals at South American Games outside of its own borders. The previous record abroad was set in Cochabamba 2018, when the Peruvian team won 92 medals. At the 2022 Games in Asunción, they secured 74.
Now it is 99 medals. Only once before has Peru been more successful at the South American Games. At the 1990 home games in Lima, Peruvian athletes secured 185 medals. Santa Fe 2026 thus becomes Peru's second-largest medal haul at the South American Games and the largest outside of its own country.
The sixth-place finish in the medal table is also of historic importance. Peru had not achieved this position at the South American Games since 2010.
A GOLD RUSH FOR TEAM PERÚ
Anyone who thinks of soccer first when it comes to Peruvian sports should take a closer look at these Games. The medals came from numerous different sports, showing how broadly based the successful disciplines have become.
In sailing, Stefano Peschiera won gold in the ILCA 7 class. María Belén Bazo and Sophie Zimmermann also stood at the top of the podium. In shooting, Nicolás Pacheco, Alessandro de Souza, Marko Carrillo, Alexia Arenas, Kevin Altamirano, and Almudena Boza were among those cheering for gold.
Ángelo Caro also added his name to the list of winners. The skateboarder won gold in the street competition. Peruvian women were also successful in water skiing: Cristhiana de Osma won in slalom, while Natalia Cuglievan triumphed in the figures discipline.
DIEGO ELÍAS! Double gold for Peru's squash star
One of the great Peruvian names of these Games was Diego Elías. He first won gold in the singles event, then went on to hunt for more medals together with Alonso Escudero, Rafael Gálvez, and Thiago Cabrejos.
The Peruvian team won the team final against Ecuador and with it, the next gold medal. For Elías, this meant his second title at these South American Games. Surfer Catalina Zariquiey also secured a Peruvian victory, winning the women’s shortboard competition.
PERU’S OWN SPORT MAKES ITS MARK
A special story of these Games was written by Paleta Frontón. The sport has its roots in Peru and was given an international stage in Santa Fe. Kevin Martínez won gold in the men's event, while Valeria Garcés triumphed for the women.
TRIPLE GOLD IN TAEKWONDO
There was also a big celebration in taekwondo. Fabiana Varillas won the traditional women's Poomsae, while Rodrigo Subauste triumphed in the men's event. Afterwards, both competed together in the mixed event and won gold there as well.
AND THEN COMES DANA!
The final day of competition had its own very special moment. Dana Guzmán faced Argentine Jazmín Ortenzi in the tennis final—and the Peruvian made quick work of it. Guzmán won the final 6-0 and 6-3 to take the gold.
Those wanting to read more about Guzmán's home region can find further information on Piura at PeruMagazin.
NOW ALL OF PERU HAS ITS EYES ON 2027
The timing for this medal record could hardly be better, because the next big sporting event is already waiting—and this time it will take place in Peru: Lima 2027.
Many of the athletes from Santa Fe are already in the training cycle for the Pan American Games in the Peruvian capital. For them, Santa Fe was therefore more than just a fight for medals. The South American Games were also an important international performance test.
99 MEDALS – AND A CLEAR MESSAGE
28 gold, 32 silver, and 39 bronze: Peru has shown in Santa Fe how broadly based the country's elite sports sector has become. Tennis, squash, sailing, shooting, surfing, taekwondo, skateboarding, water skiing, rowing, Paleta Frontón, and other sports all contributed to the medal tally.
In the end, one number stands above all: 99 medals. Peru has never won so many at the South American Games outside of its own country. Santa Fe 2026 is history—and now Lima 2027 awaits.
Agencia Andina, September 27, 2026
Diario Oficial El Peruano, September 26/27, 2026
Diario Correo, September 27, 2026
Hero image source: Agencia Andina / Team Perú – Juegos Suramericanos Santa Fe 2026, September 27, 2026
.jpg?width=960)
.jpg?width=960)
