[2][3] Jiří Prskavec from the Czech Republic won the event, Jakub Grigar from Slovakia was second, and Hannes Aigner from Germany third.

Reigning Olympic champion Joe Clarke did not make the Great Britain team, with that nation selecting Bradley Forbes-Cryans instead.

[4] Reigning World Champion Jiří Prskavec of the Czech Republic, who won bronze at the 2016 Games, earned a place for his nation.

A National Olympic Committee (NOC) could enter only 1 qualified canoeist in the men's slalom K-1 event.

[7] The canoe course is approximately 250 metres long, with up to 25 gates that the canoeist must pass in the correct direction.