 The top three placers in each heat advanced to the semifinal, while the remaining eight crews (2 had withdrawn without starting in the heats) had to compete in repechage heats held the same day.There were two repechage heats and three kayakers to advance from each, resulting in two pairs being eliminated in the repechages.Three semifinals, each with four kayakers, were held, with the top three in each heat to advance to the final and three more pairs eliminated.