Jiří Prskavec was the defending 2020 Olympic champion, but he was placed eighth.

Slalom canoeing uses a three-round format, with heats, semifinal, and final.

In the semifinal, the canoeists get a single run; the top 10 advance to the final.

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

Penalty time is added for infractions such as passing on the wrong side or touching a gate.