The men's C-2 1000 metres event was an open-style, pairs canoeing event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1972 Summer Olympics program.
The top three finishers from each of the heats advanced directly to the semifinals and the remaining ten teams were relegated to the repechages.
Taking place on September 7, the top three finishers from each of the repechages advanced to the semifinals.
The top three finishers from each of the semifinals advanced to the final.
The Soviets took an early lead, but the Romanians mounted a charge at the 700 meter mark which came up 0.03 seconds short at the finish.