The men's C-2 1000 metres event was an open-style, pairs canoeing event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1996 Summer Olympics program.
The top two finishers from each of the heats advanced directly to the finals and the remaining teams were relegated to the semifinals.
The Antiguan and Barbudan crew did not participate in the semifinal.
Romania established an early lead, gradually expanding it through the 750 meter mark.
Gathering strength in the third quarter of the race, the Germans launched a sustained sprint to the finish that made up 2.15 seconds on the Romanians in the last 250 meters of the race to pass them right before the finish.