These are the results of the men's C-1 500 metres competition in canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
The C-1 event is raced by single-man sprint canoes.
The first-place finishers from each of the heats advanced directly to the final, and the remaining 16 canoers moved on to the two semifinal races.
Fourth place and higher competitors were eliminated.
Dittmar learned his lesson from the previous day in letting Cal get out to far ahead in the C-1 1000 m event by staying close to the Spaniard through the entire race before winning his third Olympic gold medal.