Canoeing at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's K-2 500 metres

The men's K-2 500 metres event was a pairs kayaking event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1996 Summer Olympics program that took place at Lake Lanier.

Medalists Gold Silver Bronze

Results

Heats 23 crews were entered into the event. The top three finishers from each of the three heats advanced directly to the semifinals while the remaining teams were relegated to the repechages.

Heat 11. 1:31.491 QS2. 1:32.463 QS3. 1:32.791 QS4. 1:33.411 QR5. 1:33.859 QR6. 1:34.107 QR7. 1:39.291 QRHeat 21. 1:31.361 QS2. 1:31.433 QS3. 1:31.859 QS4. 1:32.641 QR5. 1:36.685 QR6. 1:36.801 QR7. 1:37.677 QR8. 1:37.833 QRHeat 31. 1:32.030 QS2. 1:32.926 QS3. 1:33.642 QS4. 1:36.918 QR5. 1:37.118 QR6. 1:38.594 QR7. 1:43.074 QR8. 1:43.722 QR

Repechages The 14 crews raced in two repechages. The top four finishers from each repechage and the fastest fifth-place finisher advanced directly to the semifinals.

Repechage 11. 1:37.928 QS2. 1:39.716 QS3. 1:40.500 QS4. 1:42.524 QS5. 1:42.848 6. 1:44.324 7. 1:44.375 Repechage 21. 1:36.419 QS2. 1:37.119 QS3. 1:37.499 QS4. 1:39.535 QS 5. 1:39.619 QS 6. 1:40.215 7. 1:41.035

Semifinals The top four finishers in each of the two semifinals and the faster fifth-place finisher advanced to the final.

Semifinal 11. 1:29.661 QF2. 1:29.937 QF3. 1:30.641 QF4. 1:30.725 QF5. 1:31.137 6. 1:32.253 7. 1:32.517 8. 1:32.693 9. 1:37.177 Semifinal 21. 1:29.883 QF2. 1:30.031 QF3. 1:30.243 QF4. 1:30.611 QF5. 1:30.659 QF6. 1:31.559 7. 1:31.811 8. 1:34.807 9. 1:35.543

Final The final was held on August 4.

1:28.697 1:28.729 1:29.4094. 1:29.6775. 1:29.9376. 1:30.0017. 1:30.0638. 1:30.5139. 1:30.753

Hungary led for the first part of the race before fading, leaving the Germans in first. Italy moved ahead fifty meters from the finish before Germany pulled even again with ten meters left to edge ahead and defend their title.

References 1996 Summer Olympics official report Volume 3. p. 167. Sport-reference.com 1996 men's K-2 500 m results Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Canoeing: Men's Kayak Pairs 500 Meters". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 474.