The women's K-1 500 metres event was an individual kayaking event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1996 Summer Olympics program.

Medalists Gold Silver Bronze

Results

Heats 23 competitors entered in three heats. The top three finishers in each heat advanced to the semifinals while the rest competed in the repechages.

Heat 11. 1:50.303 QS2. 1:50.423 QS 3. 1:52.943 QS4. 1:54.015 QR5. 1:57.623 QR6. 1:57.675 QR7. 1:59.943 QR8. 2:02.847 QRHeat 21. 1:51.440 QS2. 1:53.024 QS3. 1:54.880 QS4. 1:58.160 QR5. 1:58.520 QR6. 1:58.884 QR7. 1:59.996 QR8. 3:00.672 QRHeat 31. 1:53.767 QS2. 1:54.695 QS3. 1:55.043 QS4. 1:57.363 QR5. 1:58.531 QR6. 2:00.059 QR7. 2:07.811 QR

Repechages Two repechages were held. The top four finishers in each repechage and the fastest fifth-place finisher advanced to the semifinals.

Repechage 11. 1:57.891 QS2. 1:58.359 QS 3. 1:59.027 QS4. 1:59.095 QS5. 2:00.371 QS6. 2:02.847 7. 2:12.219 Repechage 21. 2:04.829 QS2. 2:04.885 QS3. 2:05.477 QS4. 2:05.737 QS5. 2:08.017 6. 2:11.941

Lehrer did not participate in the repechage.

Semifinals Two semifinals were held. The top four finishers in each semifinal and the fastest fifth-place finisher advanced to the final.

Semifinal 11. 1:48.842 QF2. 1:49.886 QF 3. 1:50.066 QF4. 1:50.830 QF5. 1:51.142 QF6. 1:52.322 7. 1:55.842 8. 1:55.930 9. 1:57.948 Semifinal 21. 1:49.079 QF2. 1:49.575 QF3. 1:51.863 QF4. 1:53.255 QF5. 1:53.611 6. 1:54.687 7. 1:54.899 8. 1:54.943 9. 1:55.339

Final The final was held on August 4.

1:47.655 1:47.891 1:48.7314. 1:49.3835. 1:49.5916. 1:50.2717. 1:50.8118. 1:50.8759. 1:52.451

Three of the finalists (Borchert, Fischer, and Idem) were German-born, but Idem competed for Italy following the 1988 Summer Olympics while Borchert competed for Australia after the 1992 Summer Olympics. Pastuszka was the only finalist under 27 years of age. Kőbán overtook Brunet in the final 50 meters of the event to take the gold medal.

References 1996 Summer Olympics official report Volume 3. pp. 166–7. Sports-reference.com 1996 women's K-1 500 m results. Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Canoeing: Women's Kayak Singles 500 Meters". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 492.