Canoe Sprint at the 1972 Summer Olympics

There was no change in the flatwater canoeing program in 1972, with the same two women’s events and same five for men that had been held in 1964-68. Women contested kayak singles and doubles over 500 metres. All men’s events were over 1,000 metres with three kayak events (singles, doubles, fours) and two Canadian canoe events (singles, doubles). All events were considered canoe sprint events, but for the first time canoe slalom was contested at the 1972 Olympics.

The Soviet Union dominated sprint canoeing in München, winning six of the seven events. The only one they did not win was the Canadian singles, won by Romanian Ivan Patzaichin, who was the only individual with two medals in 1972, adding a silver in C2.

The 1972 flatwater canoeing events were contested at the Olympic Regatta Course in Oberschleißheim, a section of München, which also hosted the 1972 rowing competition. The course is still in use and continues to host many events (through 2020).