Canoeing at the 1972 Summer Games: Previous Summer Games ▪ Next Summer Games
Host City: München, West Germany
Venue(s): Olympic Regatta Course, Oberschleißheim, München
Date Started: September 8, 1972
Date Finished: September 8, 1972
Format: Top three in each heat advanced to the final.
| Gold: | Ivan Patzaichin |
| Silver: | Tamás Wichmann |
| Bronze: | Detlef Lewe |
| Rank | Athlete | Age | Team | NOC | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivan Patzaichin | 22 | Romania | ROU | 4:11.90 | QU/OB |
| 2 | Jiří Čtvrtečka | 29 | Czechoslovakia | TCH | 4:14.99 | QU |
| 3 | Roberto Altamirano | 27 | Mexico | MEX | 4:15.24 | QU |
| 4 | Jean-François Millot | 27 | France | FRA | 4:20.70 | |
| 5 | John Wood | 22 | Canada | CAN | 4:24.40 | |
| 6 | András Törő | 32 | United States | USA | 4:25.23 | |
| 7 | Tetsumasa Yamaguchi | 25 | Japan | JPN | 4:36.34 |