These are the results of the men's K-1 500 metres competition in canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The K-1 event is raced by single-man canoe sprint kayaks.
The 28 competitors first raced in three heats for position in one of three semifinal races. As there are 9 lanes on the course, 27 of 28 kayakers moved on. The heats were raced on August 24.
| Heat | Place | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | width=60 | 1:36.905 | QS | ||
| 1 | 2 | 1:37.997 | QS | |||
| 1 | 3 | 1:39.401 | QS | |||
| 1 | 4 | 1:39.745 | QS | |||
| 1 | 5 | 1:40.645 | QS | |||
| 1 | 6 | 1:40.689 | QS | |||
| 1 | 7 | 1:40.809 | QS | |||
| 2 | 1 | 1:37.341 | QS | |||
| 2 | 2 | 1:37.589 | QS | |||
| 2 | 3 | 1:38.725 | QS | |||
| 2 | 4 | 1:40.025 | QS | |||
| 2 | 5 | 1:40.149 | QS | |||
| 2 | 6 | 1:42.253 | QS | |||
| 2 | 7 | 1:43.337 | QS | |||
| 3 | 1 | 1:37.591 | QS | |||
| 3 | 2 | 1:38.675 | QS | |||
| 3 | 3 | 1:38.859 | QS | |||
| 3 | 4 | 1:40.067 | QS | |||
| 3 | 5 | 1:40.999 | QS | |||
| 3 | 6 | 1:42.383 | QS | |||
| 3 | 7 | 1:42.415 | QS | |||
| 4 | 1 | 1:40.089 | QS | |||
| 4 | 2 | 1:40.349 | QS | |||
| 4 | 3 | 1:40.365 | QS | |||
| 4 | 4 | 1:42.581 | QS | |||
| 4 | 5 | 1:44.217 | QS | |||
| 4 | 6 | 2:02.669 | QS | |||
| 4 | 7 | 2:06.937 |
The top three finishers in each of the three semifinals qualified for the final. Fourth place and higher competitors were eliminated. The semifinals were raced on August 26.
| Semifinal 1 | |||||
| width=30 | 1. | width=60 | 1:38.361 | QF | |
| 2. | 1:38.737 | QF | |||
| 3. | 1:39.525 | QF | |||
| 4. | 1:40.253 | ||||
| 5. | 1:40.737 | ||||
| 6. | 1:40.753 | ||||
| 7. | 1:40.765 | ||||
| 8. | 1:42.213 | ||||
| 9. | 1:43.125 | ||||
| Semifinal 2 | |||||
| 1. | 1:38.911 | QF | |||
| 2. | 1:39.643 | QF | |||
| 3. | 1:40.467 | QF | |||
| 4. | 1:40.727 | ||||
| 5. | 1:41.039 | ||||
| 6. | 1:41.335 | ||||
| 7. | 1:43.051 | ||||
| 8. | 1:43.411 | ||||
| 9. | 2:04.975 | ||||
| Semifinal 3 | |||||
| 1. | 1:38.907 | QF | |||
| 2. | 1:39.031 | QF | |||
| 3. | 1:40.387 | QF | |||
| 4. | 1:41.131 | ||||
| 5. | 1:41.291 | ||||
| 6. | 1:42.207 | ||||
| 7. | 1:43.095 | ||||
| 8. | 1:46.179 | ||||
| 9. | 1:46.627 | ||||
The final was raced on August 28.
| width=60 | 1:37.919 | ||
| 1:38.467 | |||
| 1:38.547 | |||
| 4. | 1:38.667 | ||
| 5. | 1:39.315 | ||
| 6. | 1:39.647 | ||
| 7. | 1:40.187 | ||
| 8. | 1:40.639 | ||
| 9. | 1:41.575 |