The women's K-4 500 metres event was a fours kayaking 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 while the remaining teams were relegated to the semifinals.
The top two finishers in each of the semifinals and the fastest third-place finisher advanced to the final.
Fischer became the first woman in any sport to win Olympic gold medals 16 years apart.
She won the women's K-1 500 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.