 The top three placers in each heat advanced to the semifinal, while the remaining six crews (4 had withdrawn without starting in the heats) had to compete in repechage heats held the same day.Since there were two repechage heats and three kayakers to advance from each, all of the kayakers who had started in the heats moved on to the semifinals the next day.Three semifinals, each with five kayakers, were held, with the top three in each heat to advance to the final.